EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Angel Group

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the properties acquired by the Angel Group and its subsidiaries from the Department and its agencies and the (a) dates and (b) costs of their acquisition.

Stephen Twigg: No properties have been acquired by the Angel Group or any of its subsidiaries from my Department.

Asbestos

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the actions his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are taking to comply with the requirements of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002; whether he has made an estimate of the cost of compliance; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: My Department has recently commissioned independent specialist consultants to carry our asbestos surveys in all the buildings the Department occupies and manages. These surveys will provide us with up to date information on the location, type and, most importantly, the condition of asbestos. Appropriate risk assessments have also been carried out, asbestos control measures confirmed and a programme of regular reviews and updates has been scheduled.
	All these procedures are being incorporated into an updated Departmental Health and Safety Management Plan. This will incorporate specific job responsibilities for building safety managers to maintain asbestos registers, undertake appropriate reviews and risk assessments and address all other statutory requirements to effectively manage the risks from asbestos in departmental buildings. These measures are being progressed in cooperation with the Health and Safety Executive and will result in the Department complying fully with the new Regulations.
	Accurate costings for compliance with the new Regulations are not available.

Rural Issues

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in which subjects (a) rural and (b) countryside issues feature in the National Curriculum at (i) primary and (ii) secondary level.

Stephen Twigg: Rural and countryside issues are covered within the National Curriculum through citizenship and geography.
	Through geography, a foundation subject studied by all pupils aged 5 to 14; pupils investigate different places and environments, including the countryside within the United Kingdom and abroad. Through citizenship, a statutory requirement in secondary schools from September 2002, pupils should be taught about the wider issues and challenges of global interdependence and responsibility, including sustainable development and Local Agenda 21. This gives teachers in rural schools the opportunity to incorporate issues of a rural nature in lessons.
	From October 2003, schools opting for Specialist School status in any one of the 10 specialisms will be able to build in a rural dimension into their chosen specialism. Target setting subjects, which schools may utilise as part of the rural dimension, include: GCSE Geography, GCSE Environmental Science, GCSE Rural and Agricultural Science, GNVQ or GCSE Leisure and Tourism and GNVQ Land and Environment.

Phonics

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 10 June 2003, Official Report, column 785W, on synthetic appliances, if he will list the international research over the last 30 years on which the teaching of phonics in the National Literary Strategy is based; how many schools have adopted the Jolly Phonics programme; and when he will publish the report on the seminar of 17 March 2003.

Stephen Twigg: The teaching of phonics in the National Literacy Strategy (NLS) is based on a wide range of research, and can be found in Roger Beard's "Review of Research and Other Related Evidence", which is available on the Department for Education and Skills Standards website at: www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/literacy/publications
	The Department does not collect information on the number of schools who have adopted the Jolly Phonics or any other commercial programme. Schools are able to choose from a range of phonics programmes, including the NLS Progression in Phonics, as well as other commercial schemes. It is up to individual schools and teachers to decide which scheme is most effective in meeting the needs of their pupils.
	The report on the phonics seminar of 17 March 2003 will be published shortly.

PRIME MINISTER

Iraq

Paul Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment has been made of the function of the two vehicles suspected of being biological weapons laboratories that were discovered in Iraq.

Tony Blair: Investigations into their role are continuing.

TRANSPORT

Appointments

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the people appointed to ad hoc posts within his Department bearing the titles of advocate, tsar, adviser, champion and comparable titles since May 1997; what their job title is or was; what their role is or was; whether they were or are being paid; what the total cost of each such person was in each financial year, including expenses and benefits; what the expected cost of each such person is in 2003–04; to whom they are accountable; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Special Advisers currently in post, appointed by the Secretary of State for the Department for Transport are Andrew Maugham and Tom Restrick.
	The above are paid appointments. Under exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, details of individual salaries are not disclosed in order to protect the privacy of the individual concerned.

Drink Driving

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 166W, on drink driving, what plans he has to amend police powers to allow evidential breath-testing at the roadside and to increase penalties; when he plans to introduce these changes; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: As stated in our Road Safety Strategy, the Government intend to create a power for police to carry out evidential breath-testing at the roadside. This measure requires primary legislation and will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time permits.
	With regard to penalty changes, the Criminal Justice Bill, currently before Parliament, provides for an increase in the maximum penalty for causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs from 10 to 14 years' imprisonment. We are planning to implement further penalty changes referred to in the report on the Review of Road Traffic Penalties (July 2002), including those applying to repeat drink-drive offenders, when a suitable legislative opportunity arises.

Freight Grants

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what body co-ordinates the national strategy for freight grants.

David Jamieson: The Government support the movement of freight by rail and waterways as a key part of our sustainable distribution policy. The freight grants programme is a demand-led scheme, which encourages the movement of goods by these means.
	Following the Transport Act 2000, the programme is administered by the Strategic Rail Authority (for rail freight) and by the Department for Transport (for inland waterways and sea freight). There is regular consultation between the Department and the SRA.

Freight Grants

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much track access grant aid was paid to freight operators in each year since 1992 (a) at current prices and (b) at outturn prices, broken down by location of company.

David Jamieson: Track Access Grants became available in 1994, with the first payment being made in 1996. The table below excludes grants made by the Scottish Executive, which is a matter for the Scottish parliament. Track Access Grant is awarded only to freight train operators, who operate throughout the network.
	
		£ million
		
			  Value of TAGs Value of TAGs at 2002–03 prices 
		
		
			 1996–97 12.2 14.3 
			 1997–98 21.3 24.3 
			 1998–99 19.3 21.4 
			 1999–2000 17.2 18.6 
			 2000–01 13.9 14.7 
			 2001–02 19.9 20.5 
			 2002–03 20.7 20.7

Mersey Tunnels Bill

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings his Department has held in the last five years with the Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority and Executive to discuss the Mersey Tunnels Bill.

David Jamieson: There have been five meetings between the Department and the Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority and Executive to discuss the current Mersey Tunnels Private Bill.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Royal Residences

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial contribution (a) Her Majesty the Queen and (b) His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is making to the redecoration and refurbishment of Clarence House.

Estelle Morris: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) Her Majesty the Queen is not paying anything towards the redecoration of Clarence House; and
	(b) His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is paying £78,000 including VAT towards the decoration costs. In addition, he is paying about £1.6 million for the soft furnishings, including carpets, light fittings and curtains.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department's vote in the Council of Ministers against a legislative proposal (a) was sufficient and (b) was not sufficient to achieve with other member states a blocking minority.

Richard Caborn: Cultural matters are not subject to Qualified Majority Voting: matters are voted unanimously. Audiovisual matters are subject to Qualified Majority Voting, but DCMS Ministers have not voted against proposals.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department abstained in the Council of Ministers on a legislative proposal that was passed by Qualified Majority Voting.

Richard Caborn: Ministers in the DCMS have not abstained in voting on audiovisual matters that are subject to Qualified Majority Voting.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department has been outvoted by Qualified Majority Voting in the Council of Ministers; and if she will list the legislation by year.

Richard Caborn: This Department has not been outvoted by Qualified Majority Voting in the Council of Ministers.

Council of Ministers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions since May 1997 the Department indicated dissent from a proposal in the Council of Ministers but did not register a vote or abstention.

Richard Caborn: On no occasion has this Department registered dissent from a proposal that has been voted on in the Council of Ministers.

London Olympic Bid

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from what budget the salary for the leader of the London Olympic Bid comes; and how many days a week the leader of the Bid will be contracted to work.

Richard Caborn: The salary for the leader of the London Olympic Bid will come from the joint provision set aside by the Government and the London Development Agency to cover the costs of the bid. It is envisaged that the leader of the Bid will be contracted to work a two to three-day week, although this is likely to be flexible to reflect changing pressures of work and to meet priorities and needs.

Sport England

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been allocated for redundancies and early retirement at (a) Sport England and (b) UK Sport for (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04.

Richard Caborn: The figures requested are shown in the following table:
	
		£
		
			  2002–03 (Actual) 2003–04 (Plans) 
		
		
			 Sport England — 7,236,000 
			 UK Sport 767 25,000

Voluntary Organisations

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding programmes are operated by her Department to support voluntary organisations working with young people; and what the level of support has been in each of the last three years.

Richard Caborn: We will be paying £134,000 this year, as we have done for each of the previous two years, to Community Service Volunteers (CSV) for the Lending Time project—involving volunteers in public libraries. The Home Office will also be putting in £134,000 for each of these years.

SCOTLAND

Reshuffle

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he offered on the designation of officials in his Department in (a) correspondence and (b) communications issued on Friday 13 June.

Alistair Darling: None.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Infanticide (Mothers)

George Osborne: To ask the Solicitor General what plans she has to change the way in which the criminal justice system deals with mothers accused of murdering their children; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service will continue to apply the two-stage test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors—namely, whether there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of a conviction and whether a prosecution is required in the public interest. In the light of the Sally Clark judgment the Crown Prosecution Service is issuing guidance to all Chief Crown Prosecutors instructing that the defence should be made aware of the criticisms of the Court of Appeal should any future case involving Dr. Williams or Professor Meadow arise. The CPS is also involved in a number of working groups that are considering the work of expert witnesses.

Staff Numbers

John Bercow: To ask the Solicitor General how many staff were employed by her Department in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03.

Harriet Harman: A holding reply was given on 7 April.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander) on 4 April 2003, Official Report, column 891W.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Fallen Stock

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to visit south Cumbria to discuss the operation of the fallen livestock disposal scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 17 June 2003
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to visit south Cumbria for this purpose. However we have regular meetings with stakeholders to discuss this issue.

Common Agricultural Policy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on developing country producers of EU enlargement, with particular reference to the payment of production-related subsidies to accession country farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 16 June 2003
	Enlargement will bring important benefits for developing countries. The new member states will take on EU partnership and co-operation agreements, and will therefore provide expanded access for developing countries under preferential and free trade arrangements, the EU's Generalised System of Preferences and the "Everything But Arms" scheme. Overall, enlargement will give access to a larger single market of up to half a billion people, with one set of rules and regulations applying throughout.
	However, enlargement will not alter the conclusion that the CAP as it stands has a detrimental impact on developing countries. The government are committed to CAP reform as a key element towards their goal of a more sustainable agriculture. A fundamentally reformed and market-oriented CAP would benefit developing countries, as well as farmers, consumers, the environment, and taxpayers in both old and new EU member states.

Computers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) computers, (b) computer printers and (c) other computing equipment were (i) purchased, (ii) disposed of by (A) landfill, (B) incineration and (C) other means, (iii) recycled and (iv) reused, broken down by households and businesses in the last year for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: These figures are not collected centrally. However, a report by the Industry Council for Electronic Equipment Recycling (ICER) suggests that in 1998, 225,000 tonnes of IT and LAN equipment were discarded. Of that, about 20 per cent. by weight was sent for reuse or recycling. This report is currently being updated and revised figures will be available shortly.

GM Crops

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers she has to accept or reject the advice of the Advisory Committee on Releases into the Environment with respect to proposed GM releases into the environment.

Elliot Morley: The Advisory Committee on Releases into the Environment is the statutory committee appointed under section 124(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to advise my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on the exercise of her powers in granting consents for the release of genetically modified organisms and other relevant matters. The Secretary of State may accept or reject the advice of the committee, but decisions must be based on an assessment of risks to human health or the environment and other criteria set out in the legislation and are open to challenge through the courts.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received regarding the licensing of GM crops for commercial use from (a) farming organisations, (b) supermarkets, (c) other Governments and (d) others.

Elliot Morley: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and Defra Ministers and officials regularly receive representations on GM crops from a wide range of stakeholders, including farming organisations, supermarkets, other Governments and others. No central record is kept of these communications.

Landfill Licences

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what licence modification in respect of the landfill site operated by Harry Sanders Ltd. at Ingram Works in Leeds is now under consideration; and how many applications for licence modifications have been received from that applicant in the last month.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 16 June 2003
	Harry Sanders Ltd. do not hold the licence for the landfill site at Ingram Works, Leeds. I understand the licence is held by Peter Saunders and the Environment Agency has not received any application to modify the licence over the last month.

Light Bulbs

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) GLS bulbs, (b) fluorescent tubes, (c) halogen bulbs, (d) low energy bulbs and (e) other lighting bulbs were (i) purchased, (ii) disposed of, by (A) landfill, (B) incineration and (C) other means, (iii) recycled and (iv) reused, broken down by households and businesses in the last year for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: The Lighting Industry Federation, which accounts for the majority of lighting manufacturers in the UK, estimates the figures for its members are as follows.
	
		
			  Lamp sales 2002 (million) Percentage business use (approx) Disposal in 2002 (per cent.)LandfillIncinerationRecycle 
		
		
			 Filament lamps (GLS) 323 40 100 0 0 
			 Fluorescent tubes 54 90 93.5 0 6.5 
			 Halogen 26 40 100 0 0 
			 Low energy lamps (CFL) 24 45 97.5 0 2.5 
			 High intensity discharge 5.5 100 82.5 0 17.5

Official Spelling

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy that all official (a) correspondence, (b) reports and (c) documentation from her office uses the English spelling of words where this differs from the US version.

Alun Michael: I have asked officials to follow precisely this approach and I know they make considerable efforts to do so. It is a formal aim within Defra for all correspondence, reports and documentation to be written according to Plain English standards (allowing leeway in technical reports aimed at a specialist audience) and to avoid non-standard spelling. I have also asked officials to avoid use of initials except when they are in standard use, but this is even more difficult to achieve in practice. Publication of reports is carried out in line with Guidance on the Work of the Government Information Service.

Resource Productivity

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations contained in the Performance and Innovation Unit's report "Resource Productivity: Making More with Less", published in November 2001.

Elliot Morley: The recommendations in this report were initially under consideration by an inter-departmental group of officials, formed in early 2002. However, this work has taken on a much broader context because of the agreement successfully reached last September at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) on the theme of sustainable consumption and production. The Government's intention now is to publish, later this summer, a strategic document on the broader WSSD theme. This will draw on the earlier work of the Performance and Innovation Unit on resource productivity, as well as on developments in the related areas of energy and waste, on which the PIU and then the Strategy Unit have also reported.

Sellafield

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the quantified radioactive discharges, by terabecquerels, from Sellafield to (a) air and (b) water in each year from 1980 to date; and what the projected discharges are in each year to 2020.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 9 June 2003
	Liquid and aerial discharge data for the years 1980 to 2002 inclusive, is provided in the following tables. For liquid discharges, the total alpha plus total beta (excluding tritium) measurements in table 1 provide a simple indication of past and future discharges that is representative of the overall discharge. Tritium in liquid discharges, which has very low radiological toxicity, despite being high in quantitive terms, is shown separately in table 2.
	For aerial discharges in table 3, the total alpha plus total beta measurements relate to particulate activity discharged to the atmosphere from the Sellafield site. In addition to the particulate activity there are low active radioactive gases and vapours discharged from the site which require specific sampling equipment dependent upon the gas to be measured. These measurements are separate from and in addition to the total alpha and total beta measurements and are provided in table 4 to give a more complete picture of past aerial discharges. Included in the gaseous measurements are the noble gases such as Krypton 85 and Argon 41 which are inert and consequently do not react with the environment through the normal pathways of rainwater or ground deposition. Their impact on man is through external exposure and as such their impact in terms of dose is relatively low, although in quantitive terms the discharges appear to be large.
	The projected results of liquid discharges in tables 5 and 6 are reproduced from the UK's Strategy for Radioactive Discharges, 2001–20, published in July 2002 and are shown as averaged 5-year predictions. Aerial projections are not currently available. These will be developed in the context of the first revision of the UK's Radioactive Discharges Strategy which is due to be published in 2005.
	
		Table 1: Sellafield liquid alpha plus beta radioactive discharges, excluding Tritium 1980–2002 (TBq)
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 1980 4,345 
			 1981 3,861 
			 1982 3,556 
			 1983 2,504 
			 1984 1,204 
			 1985 593 
			 1986(1) 123 
			 1987 91 
			 1988 83 
			 1989 104 
			 1990 73 
			 1991 64 
			 1992 59 
			 1993 100 
			 1994 127 
			 1995 188 
			 1996 143 
			 1997 138 
			 1998(2) 86 
			 1999 110 
			 2000(2) 77 
			 2001 123 
			 2002 113 
		
	
	(1) Discharge authorisation revised in 1986
	(2) Reduced discharges in 1998 and 2000 were due to their being no treatment of Salt Evaporator Concentrate (SEC) arising from Magnox re-processing.
	
		Table 2: Sellafield liquid tritium radioactive discharges 1980–2002 (TBq)
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 1980 1,300 
			 1981 2,000 
			 1982 1,800 
			 1983 1,800 
			 1984 1,600 
			 1985 1,100 
			 1986(3) 2,200 
			 1987 1,400 
			 1988 1,700 
			 1989 2,100 
			 1990 1,700 
			 1991 1,800 
			 1992 1,200 
			 1993 2,300 
			 1994 1,700 
			 1995 2,660 
			 1996 3,000 
			 1997 2,600 
			 1998 2,300 
			 1999 2,500 
			 2000 2,260 
			 2001 2,560 
			 2002 3,320 
		
	
	(3) Discharge authorisation revised in 1986
	
		Table 3: Sellafield aerial alpha plus beta radioactive discharges excluding vapours and gases 1980–2002 (TBq)
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 1980 0.50 
			 1981 0.25 
			 1982 0.102 
			 1983 0.08 
			 1984 0.06 
			 1985 0.05 
			 1986 0.03 
			 1987 0.02 
			 1988 0.01 
			 1989 0.01 
			 1990 0.01 
			 1991 0.01 
			 1992 0.01 
			 1993 0.01 
			 1994 0.005 
			 1995 0.004 
			 1996 0.003 
			 1997 0.002 
			 1998 0.002 
			 1999 0.002 
			 2000 0.001 
			 2001 0.001 
			 2002 0.0001 
		
	
	
		Table 4: Sellafield vapours and gases1 discharged 1980–2002 (TBq)
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 1980 32,354 
			 1981 53,770 
			 1982 45,685 
			 1983 43,411 
			 1984 38,808 
			 1985 26,875 
			 1986 56,066 
			 1987 36,501 
			 1988 42,332 
			 1989 54,914 
			 1990 40,700 
			 1991 47,727 
			 1992 30,290 
			 1993 60,570 
			 1994 41,556 
			 1995 100,289 
			 1996 97,130 
			 1997 97,764 
			 1998 101,758 
			 1999 102,857 
			 2000 76,720 
			 2001 105,140 
			 2002 101,579 
		
	
	(4) Tritium, Carbon-14, Sulphur 35, Iodine 129 and 131, Argon 41, Krypton 85.
	
		Table 5: Projected alpha/beta radioactive liquid discharges from Sellafield excluding tritium 2003–2020 (TBq)
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 2003 165 
			 2004 165 
			 2005 165 
			 2006 104 
			 2007 104 
			 2008 104 
			 2009 104 
			 2010 104 
			 2011 75 
			 2012 75 
			 2013 75 
			 2014 75 
			 2015 75 
			 2016 54 
			 2017 54 
			 2018 54 
			 2019 54 
			 2020 54 
		
	
	
		Table 6: Projected liquid tritium radioactive discharges 2003–2020 (TBq)
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 2003 9,280 
			 2004 9,280 
			 2005 9,280 
			 2006 8,930 
			 2007 8,930 
			 2008 8,930 
			 2009 8,930 
			 2010 8,930 
			 2011 9,110 
			 2012 9,110 
			 2013 9,110 
			 2014 9,110 
			 2015 9,110 
			 2016 9,520 
			 2017 9,520 
			 2018 9,520 
			 2019 9,520 
			 2020 9,520 
		
	
	Note:
	The projections in tables 5 and 6 are annualised average figures for the five-year periods 2001–05, 2006–10, 2011–15 and 2016–20. They do not represent targets or limits for sp.

Waste Management

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the locations broken down by (a) county and (b) region of (i) existing waste incinerators and (ii) pending planning applications for waste incinerators in England and Wales.

Elliot Morley: There are at present 16 Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) incinerators operating in the whole of the UK, two of which are in Scotland. Details of planning applications for proposed facilities that have yet to be determined by the respective local planning authorities, are not held centrally. The following table lists the 14 MSW incinerators in England and Wales.
	
		
			 Location MSW/year (kilotonnes) Net capacity (MW) (megawatts) Operator 
		
		
			 Cleveland (Billingham) 245 20 SITA 
			 SELCHP (Lewisham, London) 420 32 Onyx/SELCHP 
			 Tyseley (Birmingham) 350 25 Onyx 
			 Edmonton (north London) 600 32 SITA/London Waste 
			 Coventry CHP 215 17.7 Coventry and Solihull 
			 Dudley 90 7 Martin Engineering Systems 
			 Wolverhampton 105 8 Martin Engineering Systems 
			 Stoke 200 12.5 Martin Engineering Systems 
			 Nottingham CHP 150 13 Waste Recycling Group Ltd. 
			 Bolton (Manchester) 130 10 Greater Manchester Waste 
			 Sheffield CHP 135 6.8 Onyx 
			 Kirklees 135 12 SITA 
			 Isle of Wight (RDF) 35 1.8 Biff a 
			 Pebsham (RDF) Z5 Z5 Slough Heat and Power 
		
	
	There are many hundreds of other incinerators for sewage sludge, hazardous waste, clinical waste, production waste from factories etc. In England and Wales, the larger plant generally is regulated by the Environment Agency and details of their locations are available on the Environment Agency's public register. Other plant, that is part of another process regulated by the Agency, may not be shown separately on the register. Smaller plant is regulated by local authorities. In Scotland all such plant are regulated by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.
	A new plant will need planning permission to start construction and a PPC permit to start operations. The table gives the number and status, as at 16 June 2003, of new Municipal Waste Incineration Plants in England and Wales. The table contains information shared with the Environment Agency by prospective applicants for pollution control permits. There may also be other planning applications or amendments which have been submitted to local authorities over which the Agency has not been consulted. The planning status may have been changed since the data were supplied.
	
		
			 Operator Location Size, t/yr Planning status Permit status 
		
		
			 NEWLINCS Developments Grimsby 56,000 Granted IPC authorised. PPC application to be submitted 
			 Onyx Portsmouth 165,000 Granted after appeal IPC authorised. PPC application expected this year 
			 Onyx Marchwood, Southampton 160,000 Granted IPC authorised. PPC application being determined 
			 Surrey Waste Management Capel, Surrey 116,000 Granted, but there has been a successful legal challenge PPC permit issued 
			 Grundons Slough 400,000 Granted IPC authorised. PPC application expected 
			 Onyx Chineham, Surrey 110,000 Granted PPC permit issued 
			 HLC Waste Management Services Neath, Port Talbot 85,000 Granted PPC permit issued 
			 Waste Recycling Group Hull 150,000 Planning appeal turned down PPC permit issued 
			 Kent Enviropower Maidstone, Kent 500,000 Granted PPC permit being determined 
			 Riverside Resource Recovery Bexley, London 580,000nominalcapacity Application submitted; public enquiry pending IPC authorised; PPC application pending 
			 Shanks Milton Keynes 353,000 Application submitted PPC application to be submitted if planning permission granted 
			 Onyx Sheffield 225,000 Application approved PPC application determined 
			 Sita Ridham Dock, Kent 200,000 Subject to a planning appeal No application 
			 County Environment Services Roche, Cornwall 64,000 Application submitted No application

TREASURY

Civil Service Relocation

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of Sir Michael Lyons' review into civil service relocation.

Paul Boateng: The Lyons Review was launched in the Budget 2003 statement on 9 April and Sir Michael intends to report his findings by the end of the year. The Review will identify the scope for relocating substantial numbers of central Government and other public sector jobs from London and the South East to other parts of the United Kingdom Sir Michael has written to Permanent Secretaries and Heads of United Kingdom Government departments requesting asking them to submit proposals for relocating activity.
	Sir Michael will also consult a range of organisations at national, regional and local level. This consultation will begin before the end of June and will welcome responses until 12 September. It will also be accessible through the Treasury and ODPM websites.

Co-operative Societies

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to apply the same conditions to co-operative societies under industrial and provident society rules as to companies regarding (a) audit and accountants' reports and (b) publication of unaudited interim accounts.

John Healey: The Government are keen to see, where appropriate, a level playing field between industrial and provident societies and companies. We are currently examining our options for taking forward this agenda. However, in order to provide for a strategic, consistent and up-to-date approach between companies and societies, the Government believe that the general modernisation of industrial and provident society legislation in this area should be considered in the light of the planned major reform of company law, announced in the "Modernising Company Law" White Paper, published in July 2002.

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations were received from Ministers in Departments other than the Treasury on the document, "UK Membership of the Single Currency: An Assessment of the Five Economic Tests" (HM Treasury, Cm 5776), prior to its publication; and whether these were taken into account in the final draft of the document.

Paul Boateng: The assessment of the five economic tests was produced by the Treasury for the Government. The work on the assessment was undertaken by the Treasury, and it was then circulated to the Cabinet on 29 May 2003.

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the length of time required, following structural reform in housing markets and other areas, before sustainable and durable convergence in relation to membership of the single currency can be judged to have occurred;
	(2)  what estimate has been made of the time required for the dynamic changes to come through before business cycles can be judged to have converged in relation to reforms to the housing market as set out in the Executive Summary of the document "UK Membership of the Single Currency: An Assessment of the Five Economic Tests" (HM Treasury, Cm 5776)

Paul Boateng: In his statement to Parliament on 9 June 2003, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced major reforms, right for the British economy, reforms which will be implemented over the next year and will greatly assist the process of achieving sustainable and durable convergence and the flexibility necessary for Britain to succeed sustainably within the euro zone and realise its potential for trade and investment.

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will set out the analysis behind his conclusion in "UK Membership of the Single Currency: An Assessment of the Five Economic Tests" (HM Treasury, Cm 5776, paragraph 5.19), that over the long term, 2.5 per cent. for RPIX inflation corresponds to around 2 per cent. for HICP inflation;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of including housing depreciation as a component of the inflation target;
	(3)  pursuant to his oral statement of 9 June 2003, Official Report, column 412W, if he will publish the supporting papers for his conclusion that the HICP measure of inflation is a better measure;
	(4)  pursuant to his oral statement of 9 June 2003, Official Report, column 412, if he will make a statement on the perceived advantages and disadvantages of the various measures of inflation, in light of his conclusion that the HICP measure of inflation is a better measure.

John Healey: In his statement on 9 June 2003, the Chancellor said that the advantage of the internationally recognised index of consumer prices—HICP—is that it is a better measure, will improve the quality of our target, is in line with best international practice and is used by every other G7 nation but Japan, and by our neighbours in Europe. The Chancellor also said that, subject to confirmation at the time of the Pre-Budget Report, he intended to change the inflation target at that time.

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when officials from his Department first had discussions regarding the planning of events to promote the UK's entry to a single currency after 9 June 2003.

John Healey: Ministers will be holding a series of meetings around the country, campaigning for a pro-European consensus.
	The arrangements for any events taking place following the announcement on EMU will adhere strictly to the published Ministerial Code. The Code governs the boundary between the legitimate presentation of Government policy, for which Government resources can be used, and party political activities, for which they cannot.

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if the expenditure on the promotion of UK entry to the European single currency will come from the budget of his Department;
	(2)  if he will list the projected costs of (a) events and (b) publications planned by his Department to promote UK entry to the European single currency.

John Healey: The arrangements for any events taking place following the announcement on EMU will adhere strictly to the published Ministerial Code. The Code governs the boundary between the legitimate presentation of Government policy, for which Government resources can be used, and party political activities, for which they cannot.

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions officials from his Department have had with representatives of Britain in Europe regarding a campaign to promote UK entry to the European single currency.

John Healey: As the Chancellor said at the press conference on 10 June 2003,
	"Tomorrow I'll be meeting Britain in Europe and discuss with them the changes we need in Britain and in Europe."

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the programme of events planned by his Department to promote UK entry to the European single currency.

John Healey: Ministers will be holding a series of meetings around the country, campaigning for a pro-European consensus.

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further work is being undertaken on the role of discretionary fiscal policy inside EMU, further to paragraph 2.215 of "UK Membership of the Single Currency: An Assessment of the Five Economic Tests" (HM Treasury, Cm 5776); and when this work will be completed.

Paul Boateng: The Treasury will conduct further analysis into these issues to ensure that the policy proposals deliver effective counter-cyclical stabilisation of the economy if the UK were to join EMU.

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further work is being undertaken on the role of automatic fiscal stabilisers inside EMU, further to paragraph 2.196 of UK Membership of the Single Currency: An Assessment of the Five Economic Tests (HM Treasury, Cm 5776); and when this work will be completed.

Paul Boateng: Paragraph 5.32 of the Treasury discussion paper "Fiscal stabilisation and EMU" describes what further work will be required over time to assess the case for strengthening the automatic stabilisers if the UK were to join EMU.

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on his proposal to change the inflation target.

Paul Boateng: The Chancellor has received a number of representations from Members of Parliament on behalf of their constituents seeking confirmation that pensions will continue to be increased in line with the RPI. In his statement on 9 June the Chancellor confirmed that pensions and benefits and index-linked gilts would be calculated on exactly the same basis as now.

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what analysis he has made of the performance of the existing inflation target and its effect on the conduct and performance of UK monetary policy since 1997.

Paul Boateng: The Treasury published a paper in October 1999, "The New Monetary Policy Framework", which assessed the performance of the new framework in its first two years. This analysis was updated in the book "Reforming Britain's Economic and Financial Policy—Towards Greater Economic Stability", HM Treasury, published in 2002. In addition, the Government publishes regular commentary on, and analysis of, the performance of inflation and inflation expectations under the new monetary policy framework in Budget and Pre-Budget Reports. The analysis demonstrates that the new monetary policy framework has made a difference, in particular in closing the credibility gap between inflation expectations and the inflation target.

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his oral statement of 9 June 2003, Official Report, column 412W, if he will make a statement on the consultation process on the new fiscal rule.

Paul Boateng: The Treasury discussion paper "Fiscal stabilisation and EMU" discusses how the new fiscal rule could be set up if the UK were to join EMU. In his statement to Parliament on 9 June 2003, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said, "to ensure stability inside the euro area we will consult on the case for an open letter system on fiscal policy and a new and additional fiscal rule." We intend to discuss the new fiscal rule with external experts. Given that decisions on how such consultation will be carried out have not yet been made, the draft answer quotes from the statement that "we will report on progress in the Budget next year"

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conclusions he draws from the UK's correlation of business cycle to the euro area compared to Germany's as shown in Table 1.1 of "UK Membership of the Single Currency: An Assessment of the Five Economic Tests" (HM Treasury, Cm 5776).

Paul Boateng: I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 1.166 of "UK Membership of the Single Currency: An Assessment of the Five Economic Tests" which states:
	"On past performance, UK business cycles have been much less compatible with the euro area average than has been the case in other countries such as Germany and France. There is some evidence that compatibility may have increased in recent years, reflecting greater macroeconomic stability in the UK and increased convergence between the business cycles of all the advanced economies. Over the last five years, the UK output gap cycle has been more correlated with the German cycle than that in the US..."

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to "UK Membership of the Single Currency: An Assessment of the Five Economic Tests" HM Treasury, Cm 5776, paragraph 1.121, what conclusions he has drawn from his finding that the United Kingdom left the ERM at least in part because of a lack of convergence.

Paul Boateng: As the Chancellor said in his statement to the House on 9 June 2003,
	"The discipline of the five tests is to ensure there will be no repeat of the experience of the ERM when Britain joined at the wrong rate and at the wrong time without either convergence or flexibility and the potential benefits could not be realised."
	The Government believe there is a realistic prospect of making significant progress on this reform agenda over the next year. We will report on progress in the Budget next year.

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on his assessment of the effect of EMU membership on pensioners, and in particular his conclusion in "UK Membership of the Single Currency: An Assessment of the Five Economic Tests", HM Treasury, Cm 5776, paragraph 5.139 that overall the environment would be one of greater uncertainty.

Paul Boateng: As the Chancellor said in his statement,
	"we will do nothing to put stability and the national economic interest at risk."

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether officials from Departments other than the Treasury contributed to the final contents of the document "UK Membership of the Single Currency: An Assessment of the Five Economic Tests" (HM Treasury, Cm 5776).

Paul Boateng: This is a Treasury assessment produced for the Government. The work was undertaken by the Treasury.

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the final changes were made to the document "UK Membership of the Single Currency: An Assessment of the Five Economic Tests" (HM Treasury, Cm 5776).

Paul Boateng: The assessment of the five economic tests was produced by the Treasury for the Government. The work on the assessment was undertaken by the Treasury, and it was then circulated to the Cabinet on 29 May 2003.

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether officials from departments other than the Treasury contributed to the final contents of the 18 EMU studies accompanying the Treasury's assessment of the five economic tests, published on 9 June.

Paul Boateng: As stated in the EMU study "EMU and business sectors"
	"This study has benefited from comments and analytical inputs from Department of Trade and Industry officials. . . All content, conclusions, errors and omissions in this study are, however, the responsibility of HM Treasury alone."

Euro

Michael Howard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether ministers in (a) the Treasury and (b) other Departments made a contribution to the final contents of the 18 EMU studies which accompanied the Treasury's assessment of the five economic tests, published on 9 June.

Paul Boateng: The EMU studies are Treasury studies, and the work was completed by Treasury officials and, in some cases by external authors with specialist expertise.
	One EMU study, "EMU and business sectors"
	". . . benefited from comments and analytical inputs from Department of Trade and Industry officials. . . . All content, conclusions, errors and omissions in this study are, however, the responsibility of HM Treasury alone".
	The EMU studies were then circulated to Cabinet on 17 May 2003.

Orphan Funds

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what analysis he has conducted of the amount of unclaimed orphan funds in (a) banks, (b) building societies and (c) elsewhere;
	(2)  how much unclaimed money lay in orphan funds on 1 January in each year since 1973; and what records his Department has of unclaimed funds in years before 1973.

John Healey: The Treasury does not hold this information.

Probation Service

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the 2003–04 pay negotiations for the Probation Service in England and Wales will commence.

Paul Boateng: Under pay delegation, it is for the individual organisation, in this case the National Probation Service, to determine when negotiations with their unions will commence.

Travel and Subsistence Allowances

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost of travel and subsistence allowances paid to Customs and Excise officers in the Law Enforcement South Region was in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002; and what estimate he has made of the total cost of travel and subsistence allowances payable to Customs and Excise officers in the Law Enforcement South Region in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2004.

John Healey: Customs and Excise Law Enforcement South Region was created in April 2001, as an entity did not exist prior to April 2001. Law Enforcement changes its structure from time to time in order to meet new business challenges. Over the period in question there have been some changes to regional management structures in the South, which together with accounting constraints, mean that no exact correlation of data is possible.
	For the fiscal year 2001–02 the total spend on travel and subsistence for the Law Enforcement South Region was £2.32 million, and covers the operations of all detection, intelligence and investigation officers.
	For the fiscal year 2002–03 the total spend was £2.42 million. The initial allocation of funds to cover travel and subsistence costs for this region for 2003–04 is £2.55 million.
	For 2004–05 we would expect similar expenditure to 2003–04 but would adjust accordingly at the time of allocation in the light of any new business developments or changes.
	The figure for 2003–04 does not yet take account of new activities related to anti-terrorism and Products of Animal Origin (POAO), which may result in higher spending on travel and subsistence allowances in the South Region.

Whitehall Refurbishment

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what searches were carried out for surveillance devices during the refurbishment of the Treasury buildings in Whitehall; and if he will make a statement on the results of searches.

John Healey: The Treasury does not comment on security matters of this nature. Exemption 7 of the Open Government Code applies.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Aid

John MacDougall: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what funds were made available through the Department and its predecessors for aid, expressed as a percentage of GDP, in each of the last 30 years.

Hilary Benn: Details of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) as a percentage of Gross National Income (GNI) from 1977 are available in "Statistics on International Development 1997/98–2001/02", Table 16.1 page 153; the document is available in the House of Commons Library. The table sets out the figures from 1973. The provisional figure for 2002 is 0.30 per cent.
	
		
			  ODA as percentage of GNI 
		
		
			 1973 0.34 
			 1974 0.40 
			 1975 0.39 
			 1976 0.39 
			 1977 0.44 
			 1978 0.46 
			 1979 0.51 
			 1980 0.35 
			 1981 0.43 
			 1982 0.37 
			 1983 0.35 
			 1984 0.33 
			 1985 0.33 
			 1986 0.31 
			 1987 0.28 
			 1988 0.32 
			 1989 0.31 
			 1990 0.27 
			 1991 0.32 
			 1992 0.30 
			 1993 0.31 
			 1994 0.31 
			 1995 0.29 
			 1996 0.27 
			 1997 0.26 
			 1998 0.27 
			 1999 0.24 
			 2000 0.32 
			 2001 0.32

Child Labour

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if she will make a statement on treatment of child labour on banana plantations in Ecuador.

Hilary Benn: There are some 6,000 children working on plantations in Ecuador and thousands more working on small farms. They do so because of the lack of earning opportunities available to their parents. There is no concrete evidence to suggest that children are being forced against their will to work in plantations. The only sustainable solution is to improve earning opportunities for poor people. We continue to encourage multilateral donors to focus their support on the needs of the poorest to help achieve this.
	DFID's Civil Society Challenge Fund is supporting a cross regional programme of assistance for banana workers in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras. This project is managed by the UK based NGO 'Banana Link' and aims to secure and maintain the freedom of plantation workers to organise themselves into independent trade unions and to participate in free collective bargaining.
	The British embassy monitors the compliance of Ecuador to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights legislation to which Ecuador is a signatory. The UK Government are committed to helping eliminate child labour globally, particularly the worst forms such as child slavery, and all forms of abusive or exploitative child labour. The Government strongly supports the International Labour Organisation's work to fight child labour and the UK has ratified both of the ILO Child Labour Conventions.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what discussions he has had with the Coalition Authority regarding the role of women in the Interim Iraqi Administration; and when these discussions took place.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	Through the UK's Special Representative for Iraq, we are working closely with the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and Iraqis to ensure that women play a full and equal role in the Iraqi Interim Administration.
	The UK's Special Representative, John Sawers, has consistently emphasised the importance of women being an integral part of Iraq's political process.
	A gender expert from the Women and Equality Unit has been seconded to the CPA and she is working with other secondees and Iraqi women to help facilitate women's involvement in the political process in Baghdad.
	John Sawers and Ambassador Bremer, the US civilian administrator of Iraq, met women on 25 May in Baghdad to listen to their views and concerns, as well as to discuss ways to ensure their full involvement in the reconstruction process.

Iraq

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what guidelines have been issued to the Coalition Authority concerning the appointment of women to the Interim Iraqi Administration; and what role the Department will have in the appointment of delegates to the Interim Iraqi Administration.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	No decisions have yet been taken as to the composition of any Iraqi Interim Administration. Consistent with UNSCR 1483, Iraqis, with the help of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and the UN Special Representative, will establish interim bodies, and work towards the formation of a fully representative new Iraqi government.
	We believe it is important for women to be represented in those interim bodies. Through the Office of the UK Special Representative to Iraq, we are working towards this aim, in conjunction with the CPA and Iraqi groups. A gender expert from the Women and Equality Unit has been seconded to the CPA and is working with other secondees and Iraqi women to help facilitate women's involvement in the political process in Baghdad.

Marie Stopes International

Andrew Selous: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what measures the Department takes to ensure that advice given by departmentally funded Marie Stopes websites is legal.

Hilary Benn: DFID supports a number of Marie Stopes International (MSI) projects in developing countries, but this has not included specific funding for MSI's website. The Charity Commissioners are responsible for ensuring that charities operate within the relevant rules and laws that govern their activities.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's total budget for Afghanistan has been in each of the last three financial years; what the projected budget is for the year ahead; and how funds have been allocated.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 10 June 2003
	Separately identifiable costs apportioned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office budget for Afghanistan over the last three years are: 2000–01: £0.67 million, 2001–02: £1.77 million, 2002–03: £9.5 million. The forecast cost for 2003–04 is £22 million.
	These costs include:
	a. staff and administration costs in UK and Afghanistan (£256,000, £1.1 million, £2.5 million over the past three years and £4.3 million forecast for 2003–04);
	b. capital costs in Kabul: (£0, £650,000, £500,000 over the past three years and £2.8 million forecast for 2003–04. The 2003–04 forecast includes the cost of the new Embassy)
	c. Afghanistan assistance programmes: (£418,000, £310,000, £6.5 million over the past three years and £15 million forecast for 2003–04).

Afghanistan

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the objectives of Government policy are towards Afghanistan.

Mike O'Brien: The objective of British Government policy in Afghanistan is a stable and secure Afghanistan restored to its rightful place in the community of nations and enjoying mature relations with its neighbours. It should have a self-sustaining economy; strong institutions; and a broad-based, multi-ethnic regime committed to:
	eradicating terrorism
	eliminating opium production;
	reducing poverty;
	respecting human rights, especially those of women and minority groups; and
	honouring Afghanistan's other international obligations.

Burma

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the EU plans to take regarding the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma; and if the matter will be referred to the UN Security Council.

Mike O'Brien: We are in regular contact with EU partners and are in discussion about what further steps we will take if the regime does not provide immediate satisfactory responses.
	The EU has already decided that the strengthened measures of the Common Position will now be implemented. The Common Position contains: an arms embargo; a ban on defence links; a ban on high-level bilateral government visits; a ban on non-humanitarian aid; a ban on the supply of equipment that might be used for internal repression or terrorism; an asset freeze and visa ban on regime members, the military and security forces and others who actively frustrate the process of national reconciliation.
	Whether the matter is to be referred to the UNSC is currently under discussion.

China

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with China.

Bill Rammell: We currently enjoy very good relations with China. These have been built on regular high level visits in both directions, as well as lower level exchanges on many different issues. We look forward to building relations with the new leadership.
	As part of our efforts to step up our dialogue with China on major international issues the Chinese Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing, will visit the UK next week for talks with my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and other Government Ministers.
	We have welcomed China's support in the fight against terrorism. The strength of our relationship allows us to raise directly with the Chinese Government our concerns about human rights in China which we do on a regular basis.

Former Yugoslavia

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the stability and security situation in the Presevo Valley in the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what (a) peacekeeping forces and (b) recognised NGOs are present in Presevo in the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what proportion of people of the Moslem faith who fled the Presevo Valley he estimates have returned to their homes;
	(4)  when a representative of the UK embassy in Belgrade last visited the Presevo Valley;
	(5)  what reports he has received from (a) the UK Mission in Belgrade and (b) peacekeeping forces and NGOs, as to whether residential properties in Lagja Skemdevbeg district of Presevo in the former Yugoslavia are (i) destroyed and (ii) occupied by others than the original, legitimate tenants and owners; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 19 June 2003
	In recent years, the Presevo Valley in the south of Serbia and Montenegro (formerly Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) has experienced clashes between the Serbian security forces and armed extremist elements from the local ethnic Albanian community. The security situation has now improved following a peace settlement in May 2001, and a political process which has incorporated the Albanian minority more fully into local government.
	Tensions re-emerged in February this year when there were renewed attacks on Serbian security forces from ethnic Albanian extremists, largely based in eastern Kosovo. With the support of the international community, the Serbian authorities brought the situation under control. There remains an increased security forces presence in the region but the situation is currently calm and stable, with only occasional isolated incidents.
	Progress on refugee returns to southern Serbia has been good. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) estimates that 90 per cent. of ethnic Albanian internally displaced persons (IDPs) or refugees from Presevo have returned, 66 per cent. from Bujanovic district, and 70 per cent. from Medvedja district. The principal obstacle to further returns is the poor economic situation in the region. We have received no reports of destruction or illegal occupation of properties in any area of the PresevoValley.
	The Serb authorities, through the Serbian Government's Co-ordinating Body for Southern Serbia (SGCB), and the International Community continue in their efforts to consolidate the rule of law and multiethnic democracy in the region. There are no international peacekeeping forces in southern Serbia itself. KFOR maintains a presence in Kosovo and in Macedonia, which borders with the Presevo Valley.
	United Nations agencies, the OSCE and the European Union Monitoring Mission operate in southern Serbia, as well as a large number of NGOs. These include:American Refugee Committee (ARC); Development Alternatives Inc (DAI); International Rescue Committee (IRC); Medecins du Monde (MDM); Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF); Belgian Red Cross; International Organisation for Migration (IOM); United Methodist Committee of Relief (UMCOR); OXFAM; Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI); CARE; CHF International; Action contre le Faim (ACF).
	The UK continues to take a close interest in the democratic development and the security situation in southern Serbia. We have contributed financial assistance to projects aimed at stabilising the region, including the OSCE's Multi-Ethnic Policing programme. The last visit by officials from the British Embassy in Belgrade took place on 19–20 March 2003. We look forward to seeing progress in tackling the economic problems of the region, and in integrating ethnic Albanians more closely into the local state structures, both of which will help to stabilise the region further.

Guantanamo Bay

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received from British officials who have visited Guantanamo Bay about the health and welfare of the UK citizens detained there by the US.

Chris Mullin: British officials visited the British detainees in Guantanamo Bay for a fifth time in April. As part of their visit they checked on the welfare of the detainees, who appeared generally to be in sound physical health. The physical conditions of their detention appear to be broadly satisfactory. However, we have raised any welfare concerns we may have with the US authorities.

Indonesia

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make representations to the Indonesian Government about the (a) destruction of churches and (b) killing of civilians in the West Papua regency of Wamena; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what reports he has received of the activities of the Laskar Jihad in West Papua; and if he will make a statement on the safety of Christians in that region.

Mike O'Brien: The British Embassy in Jakarta is monitoring the situation in Wamena closely and has met NGOs and community leaders from the area. We are aware of reports of civilians being abused and buildings being burned, which the Embassy will raise with the Indonesian Government.
	Laskar Jihad announced that they were disbanding in October 2002. There is conflicting information about whether the group is now present in Papua, and if so in what numbers. The local authorities in Papua are investigating these reports. At the moment we are not aware of any particular threat to Christians in Papua.

Indonesia

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights in the Indonesian province of Aceh.

Mike O'Brien: We are concerned about recent reports of human rights abuses in Aceh. During my visit to Indonesia on 3–4 June I stressed to the Indonesian Government the importance of their Armed Forces using proportionate force, respecting human rights and acting in accordance with international law. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a joint press statement with the Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, on 20 May calling on the Indonesian Armed Forces to ensure full respect for human rights and to show maximum restraint while they carry out operations in Aceh. We regularly raise with the Indonesian authorities the importance of upholding and promoting human rights and religious freedom throughout thecountry.
	The Indonesian Government have agreed to allow members of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas-HAM) to visit Aceh to investigate any alleged human rights abuses. There have also been two military tribunals at which military personnel have been sentenced to imprisonment for abusing civilians. We will continue to monitor the situation.

Indonesia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Indonesian Government's special autonomy law for West Papua of January 2002, with special reference to President Megawati's decree of March 2003 splitting the province.

Mike O'Brien: The UK, together with EU partners, supports Special Autonomy for Papua. We have encouraged the Indonesian Government fully to implement Special Autonomy as soon as possible.
	Following a successful visit to Papua by a Scottish Devolution team in October 2001, HMG provided funding for a devolution expert to go to Jayapura and advise the Papuan authorities, academics and civil society on drafting the legislation required for Special Autonomy. He has been in Papua since September 2002 and will leave in September 2003.
	President Megawati issued Presidential Instruction 01/2003 in January 2003, which says that Papua should be split into three provinces. It is not clear how this Instruction relates to the Special Autonomy package of 1 January 2002, but the Indonesian Government said in February 2003 that the Instruction and Special Autonomy do not contradict each other and that both can be implemented. We are seeking further clarification on this from the Indonesian Government.

United Nations Charter

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what his policy is on application of Article 16 of the Rome Statute; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what action the Security Council took, in passing Resolution 1422, to determine whether there was a threat to international peace and security that justified taking powers under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter;
	(3)  what threat to international peace and security existed when he invoked Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter and supported Resolution 1422 of the Security Council.

Bill Rammell: Article 16 of the Rome Statute provides for the deferral of investigations or prosecutions by the International Criminal Court when the UN Security Council determines that such action would not be in the interests of international peace and security. On such occasions Security Council members, including the United Kingdom, would consult and act collectively.
	Security Council Resolution 1422 was adopted by unanimity under Chapter VII after intensive consultations within the Security Council. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in his press release of 13 July 2002, the Security Council acted to ensure that the International Criminal Court was not undermined; to ensure that UN operations, in Bosnia and elsewhere, were able to continue and to ensure that the US would remain engaged in providing personnel and support to peacekeeping operations around the world. In short, to protect the Court and preserve peacekeeping.

Iraq

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken in Iraq to ensure that (a) individuals are subject to justice before the law and (b) a programme for justice has been implemented that incorporates a method of partnership, such as mixed tribunals.

Mike O'Brien: The Coalition Forces continue to maintain basic law and order and, accordingly, continue to arrest and detain individuals suspected of criminal activity.
	Judges, police and prosecutors are being called back to work and it is expected that local courts will take on increasing numbers of cases in the coming weeks.
	The Coalition Provisional Authority is undertaking an assessment of the capacity and needs of the Iraqi justice sector, through analysis of the situation on the ground and listening to the wishes of the Iraqi people. The results and recommendations of this exercise will result in key capacity building measures.

Iraq

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that (a) no Iraqi civilians are expelled from Iraq without tribunal and (b) no Iraqi citizen in exile is forcibly returned to Iraq from the UK.

Mike O'Brien: International law prohibits the expulsion of Iraqi nationals from Iraq except in limited circumstances for security or imperative military reasons. There are no plans to expel Iraqi nationals from Iraq and, in any event, the UK will continue to act in accordance with its international legal obligations.
	The UK and other EU member states are working with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to establish an international framework for safe and managed returns to Iraq. We support the UNHCR's aim to put in place a voluntary repatriation programme for Iraqis as soon as possible. We are not currently enforcing the return of failed Iraqi asylum seekers, although we will review this when we consider it appropriate.

Iraq

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that Iraqis charged with human rights violations under the Geneva Convention are (a) given legal representation, (b) protected from coercion, torture and ill treatment and (c) have the legal right to appeal against their detention.

Mike O'Brien: Individuals who are detained by Coalition Forces will be treated in accordance with our international legal obligations.
	The Coalition Provisional Authority is currently undertaking an assessment of the capacity and needs of the Iraqi justice sector. The recommendations of this exercise will result in key capacity building measures.

Iraq

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken to ensure the implementation of UN Resolution 57/232 to deploy human rights monitors in Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: The fall of Saddam Hussein's regime brought to an end a long period of violations of the Iraqi people's human rights. As requested in UN Security Council Resolution 1483, the UN Secretary-General has appointed a Special Representative whose responsibilities include promoting the protection of human rights.
	The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) is taking this forward and has requested an initial US$1.5 million for the provision of Human Rights Officers. The UK has agreed to allocate £400,000 (US$650,000) towards the UNHCR's request. Our allocation will fund sixty percent of the immediate start-up costs of deploying Human Rights Officers and supporting their work.

North Korea

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the objectives are of Government policy towards North Korea.

Bill Rammell: The UK maintains a policy of engagement with North Korea in order to encourage it to become a responsible member of the international community. We use our regular opportunities for direct dialogue with the North Korean Government to urge it to end missile exports, respect the integrity of the international non-proliferation regime, address the serious concerns about its human rights record, and commit to a multilateral dialogue to find a peaceful resolution to the nuclear issue.

Sustainable Development

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department's strategy for sustainable development will be published; and how he will take forward the actions outlined in it.

Jack Straw: The FCO has incorporated its work on sustainable development into its overall strategy. This is reflected in the FCO Business Plan 2003–6, which has been recently published. This sets out the Public Service Agreements and the plans to deliver them. Our policy work on sustainable development is spearheaded by PSA 7 to "make globalisation work for sustainable development in the UK and internationally, particularly Africa". The FCO also has a programme to improve the sustainable development of its estate, which is available on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk).
	The FCO is currently reviewing its overall strategy. In this process it is examining the development of a related sustainable development strategy.

Timber

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department's procurement policy includes measures relating to timber used on and in the construction of Foreign and Commonwealth building projects; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: Our procurement policy is that timber must be obtained from legal and sustainable sources. Detailed guidance has been issued to departments responsible for major construction projects. We are considering the practicalities of extending this guidance to cover minor building works which our Posts overseas fund from their devolved budgets.

Consular General (United States)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the difference was between the amount the Estates Department in Croydon gave on the value of the Consul General's apartment in New York and the amount it was sold for.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 19 June 2003
	The decision in principle to replace the Consul General's previous residence with a more modern apartment was taken in July 2001. At that time the valuation of the property was US$15 million, although brokers advised that a price of US$17 million was a possibility.
	We concluded negotiations for the new residence in November 2001. Advice from brokers before the former residence went on the market in January 2002 provided sale price estimates ranging between US$15.5 and US$20 million.
	I am withholding details of the provisionally agreed sale price for the former residence, under exemption 7 (a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, as the information is commercially sensitive. Once the sale is completed, I will be in a position to answer as to the sale price.

Consular General (United States)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department received for the sale of the Consul General's apartment in New York.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 19 June 2003
	.A sale has been agreed subject to contract and subject also to the approval of the purchaser by the managing board of the cooperative of apartment owners in the block. I am withholding details of the provisionally agreed price under exemption 7 (a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, as the matter is commercially sensitive. Once the sale is completed, I will be in a position to answer as to the sale price.

Uzbekistan

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights in Uzbekistan.

Bill Rammell: We are deeply concerned by human rights abuses in Uzbekistan. We recognise that the Uzbek Government has taken some limited action to address the situation, including inviting the UN Special Rapporteur for Torture to visit Uzbekistan in December 2002. However, the Uzbek authorities need to do much more. We would like to see greater recognition of independent human rights groups, media organisations, religious groups, and political parties, as well as reform of the criminal justice system.
	The Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mike O'Brien), raised human rights with the Uzbek Foreign Minister on 9 June. In her opening speech at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's Annual Meeting, the then International Development Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Clare Short), urged President Karimov to implement the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur forthwith. We shall continue to press for tangible improvements in Uzbekistan's human rights record, both bilaterally and in conjunction with our EU partners.

HEALTH

Care Homes

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the effect of transitional housing benefit on registration of care homes with the Care Commission.

Stephen Ladyman: Transitional Housing Benefit was replaced by Supporting People Grant (SPG) from April 2003. Registration of an establishment as a care home would mean that residents could not claim SPG. Whether an establishment falls within the definition of a care home is a matter for the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). Statutory guidance was issued to the NCSC in August on how to distinguish care homes from supported housing of various kinds. Providers have a right of appeal to the Care Standards Tribunal against the NCSC's decisions.

Care Homes

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the nursing and residential homes for the elderly that (a) charge residents local authority rates and (b) charge higher rates than the local authority rates in (i) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (ii) Shropshire.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on charges for specific nursing and residential homes for older people are not collected centrally. The Department of Health has no information available that suggests that the proportion of nursing and residential homes that only charge residents local authority rates, and charge higher rates than the local authority rates, are any different in Shropshire than in the West Midlands region or any immediate neighbouring councils.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what progress has been made in establishing a national screening programme for abdominal aortic aneurysm; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the relative average cost per patient of (a) screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm and (b) surgery on a patient suffering from abdominal aortic aneurysm;
	(3)  when he plans to refer the issue of a national screening programme for abdominal aortic aneurysm to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE); what plans his Department has to prepare for the introduction of a screening programme for abdominal aortic aneurysm ahead of any decision by NICE; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The UK National Screening Committee (NSC) makes recommendations to Ministers on all aspects of screening programmes. It is currently considering the resource costs and workforce implications of implementing a screening programme for abdominal aortic aneurysm following publication of a multi-centre study funded by the Medical Research Council last year. Until these recommendations are received, screening should not be started.
	There are no plans at present to refer this topic to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Adverse Drug Events

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adverse drug events were reported in each year since 1998.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 17 June 2003
	Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to medicines are collated by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) through the spontaneous reporting scheme, the Yellow Card Scheme.
	The table shows details of the number of reports of suspected adverse drug reactions received through the Yellow Card Scheme since 1998. Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions occurring in the United Kingdom are received from health professionals on a voluntary basis and from pharmaceutical companies on a statutory basis. Reports of suspected adverse drug reaction occurring outwith the UK are received from pharmaceutical companies on a statutory basis. The figures provided relate to the number of reports received. Some reports may contain more than one reaction.
	
		
			  Number of UK reports received Number of foreign reports received Total number of reports received 
		
		
			 1998 18,057 28,046 46,103 
			 1999 18,483 28,339 46,822 
			 2000 33,139 32,067 65,206 
			 2001 21,465 39,990 61,455 
			 2002 16,278 44,758 61,036 
			 2003 (5)6,725 (5)11,710 (5)18,435 
		
	
	(5) 2003 figures are reports received until end May.
	It is important to note that a report of a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the medicine.

Advocacy Groups

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that there is a national network of advocacy groups to speak on behalf of vulnerable people; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government's long-term aim is to have a range of independent advocacy services available in each area so that people with learning disabilities can choose the one which best meets their needs. The funding schemes being operated by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities and Values Into Action are intended to work towards this. Under these schemes we have already allocated approximately £3 million to advocacy schemes across the country.
	The Department is funding, to the value of £90,000 over three years, United Kingdom Advocacy Network (UKAN) to promote free and independent advocacy for every mental health service user; to keep user groups and advocacy projects in touch with each other, to promote the involvement of users in planning and running mental health services and to develop standards in independent advocacy, whereby they are establishing programmes of regional training courses for advocates. UKAN also employs a worker to work specifically on advocacy issues affecting black and minority ethnic groups.

Advocacy Groups

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance he has (a) issued and (b) plans to issue to (i) social services departments and (ii) others on the most appropriate way of funding advocacy groups; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what guidance he has given to primary care trusts and NHS trusts about (a) the role of advocacy groups and (b) the most appropriate way of funding them.

Stephen Ladyman: In the year 2000, the Government published the 'No Secrets' guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse. This guidance, issued to local authorities and others, includes a paragraph (6.32) on the role of advocates, which says:
	"In some cases, it will be necessary to appoint an independent advocate to represent the interests of those subject to abuse. In such cases, all agencies should set out how the services of advocates can be accessed, and the role they should take."
	The guidance, issued to local authorities and others, in relation to 'Valuing People' in August 2001, says that development of and support for advocacy services are a priority in Valuing People. Learning disability partnership boards should collate information about the strengths and weaknesses of advocacy services in their area and use this material as the basis for making recommendations about projects to be paid for out of the Development Fund and mainstream funds.
	In addition, the Department funded the publication in 2001 of 'Deciding Together', which provides advice on how organisations can better involve people with learning disabilities in decision making that affects their lives, including a chapter on independent advocacy.
	The Adoption and Children Act 2002 places a new duty on councils with social service responsibilities, to arrange advocacy services for looked after children and care leavers who make a complaint under sections 26 and 24D of the Children Act. Draft regulations and guidance will be issued for consultation over the summer.
	Listening to children underpins the Quality Protects programme and a special grant is available to all councils, to develop independent advocacy services. There has been considerable growth in such services since the start of the programme in 1999.
	At the request of the Department of Health, Durham University undertook a study of current mental health advocacy services to assist the Department in developing this new specialist advocacy service. Its report contains a number of recommendations for good practice. We will now be working with existing advocacy service providers, people with mental illness and other stakeholders to ensure that we develop an effective advocacy service.
	No specific guidance has been provided to the National Health Service on advocacy groups. However, as part of the new patient advice and liaison service, available now in most trusts, patients can be sign-posted to local known specialist advocacy groups where they exist. In the area of supporting patients with complaints about NHS services, it is intended to provide an independent complaints advocacy service across the country from 1 September.

Aircraft Emissions

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of deaths brought forward arising from nitrogen dioxide emissions from aircraft.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 19 June 2003
	The Department has not estimated the number of deaths brought forward as a direct result of nitrogen dioxide emissions from aircraft. The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants concluded in 1998 1 that the evidence did not support quantification of deaths brought forward by nitrogen dioxide.
	1 Department of Health Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants. Quantification of the Effects of Air Pollution on Health in the United Kingdom. The Stationery Office London 1998.

Alcohol Dependency

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on after-care support, with particular reference to (a) housing, (b) education and (c) employment for those treated for alcohol dependency;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the drinks industry on the labelling of alcoholic drinks (a) to indicate alcohol units and (b) with health warnings;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to ensure that those with alcohol dependency who are receiving treatment (a) receive medical intervention and (b) have the causes of their dependency addressed.;
	(4)  whether it is his policy that the maximum target waiting time for those with alcohol dependency should be no longer than three weeks from time of referral to receipt for treatment;
	(5)  what steps he will take to ensure that accessible and suitable treatment services for alcohol dependency are provided to everyone who needs them;
	(6)  whether it is his policy to designate the tackling of alcohol dependency as having the same priority as addressing drug abuse.

Melanie Johnson: My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, in close collaboration with other Government Departments, including the Department of Health, is currently developing the national alcohol harm reduction strategy, which will sit alongside the national drugs strategy. The Strategy Unit is due to publish an interim analysis of the harms associated with alcohol misuse in the summer. The final report, which will set out the cross-Governmental alcohol harm reduction strategy, is planned for publication in the autumn.
	As part of this project the Strategy Unit and the then Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Ms Blears), have had on-going discussions with all relevant stakeholders, including the alcoholic drinks industry. There is currently no specific maximum waiting time target for treatment for those with alcohol dependency. However the final report will consider a wide variety of issues around treatment and support for those dependent on alcohol, and will then move to consider specific policy issues, including unit and warning labelling.
	Provision of appropriate health service provision is the responsibility of local commissioners of services based on assessment of need. There is a wide range of services available for those with alcohol problems requiring treatment. Medical management is available in primary and secondary care. Specialist services provide a range of psychotherapeutic interventions focusing on alcohol use and the wider contributory factors to development of dependence.

Angel Group

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the properties acquired by the Angel Group and its subsidiaries from the Department and its agencies, with the (a) dates and (b) costs of their acquisition.

Rosie Winterton: The Secretary of State for Health sold Wingrove Nurses Home, Newcastle, to Angel Heights Ltd. which is believed to be part of the Angel Group. The property was sold on the open market for £710,102 on 21 February 2000.
	Information on any properties acquired by the Angel Group and its subsidiaries from the National Health Service trusts and primary care trusts is not collected centrally.

Children's Hospices

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many children's hospices there are; what central Government funding is available for hospices; and what moneys are ring-fenced;
	(2)  what the responsibilities are of primary care trusts toward children's hospices; what the role of the Department is in the allocation of funding; and whether there are established minimum levels of funding that must be provided to primary care trusts for children's hospices.

Melanie Johnson: There are currently 28 children's hospices in England, with another 11 at various stages of planning. Government funding for children's hospices is available from primary care trusts (PCTs), which are responsible for deciding which health services the local population requires and ensuring the provision of these services. The money is not ring-fenced. In addition, £48 million has been made available by the New Opportunities Fund for their children's palliative care grant programme, including hospice provision for England, which is ring-fenced.
	PCTs receive a baseline funding allocation from the Department of Health. There are no minimum levels for funding hospices. It is for individual PCTs to decide the level of funding they allocate to children's palliative care services, including services provided by children's hospices. The Department has issued guidance on provision and the options available to meet demand—"Evaluation of the Pilot Project Programme for Children with Life Threatening Illness"—and is currently considering further guidance under the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services, which will be published next year.

Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to give the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection the power to publish performance indicators.

Rosie Winterton: Under the powers in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill, currently before Parliament, the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (CHAI) will publish the performance ratings for National Health Service bodies in 2004. It will also be required to devise and publish the criteria upon which the award of the rating is based.
	CHAI will also be given the function of publishing national performance data on the provision of healthcare by NHS bodies.

Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on why, under Clause 100 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill, the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection have a duty to keep only the Secretary of State informed about the provision, availability and quality of health services.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 19 June 2003
	Clause 100 (general functions of CHAI) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill amends the Care Standards Act 2000 by inserting a new section 5A, so that the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (CHAI) will keep the Secretary of State informed about the provision, availability and quality of independent health care in England.
	Subsection (3) of the new section provides for CHAI to make information about independent health services available to the public. CHAI will also, at clause 121, be placed under a duty to lay before Parliament an annual report of the way in which it has exercised its functions during the year.

Community Equipment Services

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards the establishment of a single integrated community equipment service to assist disabled and elderly people to remain in their own homes.

Stephen Ladyman: Of the 150 areas in England where there are expected to be integrated community equipment services, 111, or 74 per cent., are indicating currently that they will achieve local integration by the target date of April 2004. The integrating community equipment services team is supporting the remainder to achieve integration as soon as possible. Removal of the power of councils to charge for community equipment, which came into effect 9 June 2003, will further help integration by aligning councils' equipment charging regimes with the national health service.

Community Equipment Services

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is made available for community equipment and adaptation services to enable elderly and disabled people to remain in their own homes; and what plans he has to increase this funding.

Stephen Ladyman: Substantial investment has been made available in baseline funding to social services and to the national health service for the modernisation and integration of community equipment services each year since 2001. The intention of this funding was to improve the lives of all disabled people needing such equipment as well as to enable elderly and disabled people to remain in their own homes. Of the community equipment funding made available in 2001 to 2004, only £105 million for the NHS has been announced. The element within the councils' personal social services allocation was not announced, following normal practice.
	In addition, to help services achieve extended targets for community equipment, councils with social services responsibilities are now receiving a ring-fenced grant funding for community equipment. For 2003–04, this is £7.6 million. This is ring-fenced for councils that are not three-star or high-performing two-star councils. Details of this grant in future years will not be finalised until the time of the local government settlement.
	Primary care trust and council funding, including the Systems and Access Grant, is set to continue to rise in real terms and will be used at local discretion to invest in community equipment and adaptation services.

Continuing Care

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether guidance has been issued to local authority social services departments about restrictions that can be placed on the 12 week property disregard, in terms of not paying it in respect of more expensive care homes.

Stephen Ladyman: There are no restrictions on the 12 week property disregard in respect of more expensive accommodation. The 12 week property disregard is available to all residents with property who entered permanent residential care after 9 April 2001. In respect of more expensive accommodation, residents who have accessed the 12 week disregard or third parties can make up the difference between the resident's contribution and the council's contribution.
	However the council's contribution should be sufficient to meet an individual's assessed needs and may exceed the council's usual cost. The Department has issued guidance to this effect under cover of Local Authority Circular (2001)29.

Deafness

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investment he has put into (a) researching deafness and (b) treatments to restore hearing since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The estimated expenditure on hearing research through the Medical Research Council for the last five years is shown in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			  Expenditure 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1997–98 3.23 
			 1998–99 3.49 
			 1999–2000 3.34 
			 2000–01 4.96 
			 2001–02 3.94 
		
	
	In addition, since 1997, projects relating to hearing impairment totalling £1.87 million have been commissioned through the health technology assessment programme and the national research and development programme for people with physical and complex disabilities. Under the Department of Health's Policy Research Programme, a number of universal neonatal hearing screening pilots are in progress, with funding of £94,000.

Domiciliary Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people (a) are in domiciliary care and (b) have to pay for their domiciliary care.

Stephen Ladyman: In 2001–02, an estimated 1.4 million adults in England were helped to live independently at home through the provision of a variety of community-based social services. Information on the number of people who have to pay for these services is not centrally available.

Eye Health

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people with (a) age-related macular degeneration and (b) glaucoma were on the Register of Blind and Partially Sighted People in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 2000;
	(2)  how many people with (a) age-related macular degeneration and (b) glaucoma were newly registered as blind or partially sighted in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 2000.

Rosie Winterton: Detailed information on the number of people with age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma is not centrally available. Information on the number of people registered as blind or partially sighted is collected every three years from the triennial SSDA902 return. Information on the number of people registered as blind or partially sighted is shown in the tables for the years 1981–82, 1990–91 and 1999–2000.
	
		Number of people registered as blind or partially sighted, by age
		
			 At 31 March All ages 0–4 5–17 18–64 65–74 75+ 
		
		
			 1999–2000 306,500 1,330 6,800 55,340 31,940 211,070 
			 1990–91 229,980 1,040 3,670 44,400 31,940 148,940 
			 1981–82 169,730 450 3,770 39,190 28,800 97,540 
		
	
	
		Number of people newly registered during the year as blind or partially sighted, by age
		
			  All ages 0–4 5–17 18–64 65–74 75+ 
		
		
			 1999–2000 30,440 370 520 4,070 4,120 21,380 
			 1990–91 27,270 280 350 3,770 4,500 18,370 
			 1981–82 21,230 150 250 3,310 4,280 13,240 
		
	
	Note:
	1. Data source: Department of Health SSDA 902 return.
	2. The data on the SSDA902 return is collected every 3 years.
	3. It is possible for a person to be registered as partially sighted and as blind within the same year, in which case they will be counted twice in the table showing new registrations.

Food Supplements

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will re-examine those areas in which the findings of the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals are inconsistent with those of other internationally respected bodies.

Melanie Johnson: In arriving at its conclusions, the expert group on vitamins and minerals took into account evidence available on a United Kingdom and international basis. The evidence base on issues relating to vitamin and mineral supplements will be monitored closely as it develops further. Independent expert advice will be sought on specific issues where this is appropriate.

Griffiths Report

Patrick Cormack: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the unedited version of the Griffiths Report.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 June 2003
	The "Report of a Review of the Research Framework of the North Staffordshire Hospitals NHS Trust" was published in full in May 2000. A copy of the final report is available on the internet at: www.doh.gov.uk/wmro/northstaffs.htm
	Under section 2 of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", the information sought is exempt from being made available. It is not appropriate to make publicly available draft (or "unedited") versions or evidence collected for any report as they are for internal discussion. Furthermore, for legal reasons, drafts have to be shared with people who have contributed to reports for correctness and the final version has to be cleared/approved by solicitors.

Hayfever

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned on (a) the causes of hayfever and (b) the possible links between hayfever and asthma.

Stephen Ladyman: The main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC). In 2001–02, MRC expenditure on its respiratory disorders portfolio was an estimated £11.9 million, which included work on allergies and asthma, but not specifically on hayfever.
	There is no ongoing research in the Department of Health into hayfever, but the Department commissioned a study on air pollution and general practitioner consultations for allergic rhinitis (hayfever) from St. George's Hospital, London, as part of its last air pollution and health research programme. The study (by Hajal et at) was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology (volume 153, page 704) in 2001.

Hayfever

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on treating hayfever sufferers in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not centrally available. The table shows information on the net ingredient costs of products for the treatment of hayfever dispensed in the community in England from 1998 to 2002.
	
		£000
		
			 Net ingredient cost 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 BNF 3.2.1 (Antihistamines) 40,062.2 46,987.3 51,421.2 56,675.6 60,720.1 
			 BNF 12.2.1 (Drugs used in nasal allergy) 33,286.3 34,533.0 33,889.2 35,217.1 37,046.8 
			 Total 73,348.6 81,520.3 85,310.4 91,892.7 97,766.9

Hotel Accommodation

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the amount spent by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on hotel accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) others; and if he will list the average cost per hotel room, in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The detailed information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The available information regarding Departmental and agency staff has been placed in the Library.
	The Government publish an annual report of Ministerial travel overseas. The total cost of ministerial travel provided in the annual report includes the cost of accommodation. The information sought in respect of accommodation within the United Kingdom is not held centrally. All travel is conducted in line with the requirements of the Ministerial Code.
	All subsistence expenses for civil servants comply with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.

Medical Technologies

Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that technologies recommended by NICE are available in all areas.

Rosie Winterton: National health service bodies are under a statutory obligation to fund treatments recommended in National Institute for Clinical Excellence technology appraisals. We expect primary care trusts (PCTs) to meet their statutory obligations, and strategic health authorities to follow up any allegations of non-compliance. We last reminded PCTs of these obligations in guidance published in January 2003.

MRI Scans

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average MRI scan waiting times were in England in each of the last 10 years by (a) hospital and (b) region.

Melanie Johnson: Data are not collected centrally on waiting times for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The length of time that a patient may have to wait for a scan is dependent on their clinical condition. Emergency cases need to be seen immediately. Other cases will be carried out as quickly as possible, dependent on the clinical priority of all patients waiting to be scanned.
	Where a MRI scan forms part of the diagnostic process for a patient urgently referred with suspected cancer, this will be covered by the target of a maximum two months wait from urgent referral to first treatment, which will be in place for all cancers by the end of 2005.
	To increase the capacity of diagnostic services, funding has been made available for the provision of new and replacement scanners. The New Opportunities Fund has provided funding for 57 MRI scanners and the NHS Cancer Plan has provided funding for a further 50 MRI and 50 computed tomography scanners through central purchasing programmes by 2004.

Neonatal Intensive Care

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many neonatal intensive care cots there were in each neonatal intensive care unit at 31 March 1999.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 16 June 2003
	Information is not collected for each neonatal intensive care unit. The number of neonatal intensive care cots reported by each national health service trust in March 1999 has been placed in the Library. These figures are not comparable with current data on neonate intensive care cots as some NHS trusts included special care baby unit cots in error.

Travel Expenses

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much NHS travel expense fraud has been identified in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The value of travel expense fraud identified in each of the last five years is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Year Number of cases Value (£) 
		
		
			 1998–99 0 0 
			 1999–2000 2 8,180 
			 2000–01 6 14,664 
			 2001–02 7 14,135 
			 2002–03 9 349,295 
		
	
	The National Health Service counter fraud service, now the counter fraud and security management service, was formed in 1998, with the overall remit to tackle fraud and corruption within the NHS. It became operational in January 2000. No such figures were collated prior to its existence.
	These figures should be set in the context of increasingly effective counter fraud arrangements in the NHS and an increasing proportion of NHS fraud which is being identified and stopped.

Official Spelling

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that all official (a) correspondence, (b) reports and (c) documentation from his office uses the English spelling of words where this differs from the US version.

Rosie Winterton: The Cabinet Office has issued guidance for Departments on the handling of ministerial and other correspondence, which emphasises that appropriate arrangements should be in place to ensure that the quality of all replies is high. It has also issued guidance on plain written English.
	Departmental publications are prepared in line with the Guidance on the Work of the Government Information and Communication Service.

Pain Management

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on progress being made towards the establishment of a national service framework on the control of pain;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of people each year who suffer from the symptoms of pain as part of their (a) illness and (b) injury.

Stephen Ladyman: In selecting a topic for and developing and implementing a national service framework (NSF), account is taken of the importance of a health issue in terms of morbidity and mortality, the scope for service improvement and the capacity of the NHS and its partner agencies to implement the framework. Work is in hand on NSFs for renal services, children's services and long term conditions. These new NSFs amount to a significant programme of quality improvement across the NHS and partner agencies. There are no plans to amend the programme at present.
	Pain management is an important component of most patients' care and is provided as part of the patient's overall treatment. Data on the pain patients might experience as a reason for admission is not collected.

Race Relations

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in his Department and non-departmental public bodies on implementing the requirements of the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000; and if he will publish the results of the monitoring required by the Act.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is committed to transforming the health and social care system so that it produces faster, fairer services that deliver better health and social care and tackle inequalities. Achieving sustainable improvements in health and services for black and minority ethnic people is an integral and vital aspect of this programme of investment and reform.
	The Department's Race Equality Scheme covers the Department, Executive Agencies and the Directorates of Health and Social Care. Strategic health authorities, primary care trusts, national health service trusts and special health authorities are subject to the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and are required to publish a Race Equality Scheme setting out how they intend to promote race equality within their organisation.
	The Department's strategy for meeting the needs of minority ethnic communities is to set action on race equality within the overall framework for planning and delivering the Department's priorities. The Department has a detailed programme of work under way to take forward our race equality commitments and has strengthened the arrangements for supporting and accounting for progress on race equality. A board level equality review programme has recently been carried out to develop a corporate framework for setting priorities and reviewing progress including those made in the Department's Race Equality Scheme.
	On 10 March 2003, the Department published "Inside Out", a report making recommendations for improving mental health services for black and minority ethnic groups. The report was developed with the close involvement of local communities and black and minority ethnic stakeholders and provides part of a race impact assessment on mental health. This has provided the evidence to show that there is impact, which is adverse, disproportionate and unjustifiable in terms of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act. The Department will be taking remedial action and will be publishing a remedial action plan for consultation in 2003.
	As required by its employment duties, the Department will be publishing a report later this summer on the ethnic monitoring data collected so far and also has a programme of work under way to put in place the additional monitoring arrangements required.

Regulatory Bodies

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the (a) number of staff employed by and (b) budget of each regulatory body for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Bodies responsible for the regulation of health care professionals are self-funding by means of fees received from registrants. The Department does not collect information on their staffing levels or levels of funding.
	Information on staffing levels and funding for the special health authorities and non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible (some of which have regulatory responsibilities) is contained in "Public Bodies", copies of which, dating back to 1982, are available in the Library.
	The only current regulatory body for which the Department is responsible and which is not covered by "Public Bodies" is the Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals. The Council was formally established in April 2003, has four staff and will receive funding of £625,000 from the Department in 2003–04.

Residential Homes

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to NHS trusts and others about de-registering residential homes; and what his policy is on a trust de-registering all of its homes.

Stephen Ladyman: National Health Service trusts have no function in relation to the registration of residential homes. That is a function of the National Care Standards Commission.

Seroxat

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to restrict the availability of Seroxat to (a) children and (b) adults;
	(2)  what advice his Department will issue to GPs regarding the prescription of Seroxat to adults.

Rosie Winterton: New data from clinical trials of paroxetine (Seroxat) in children and adolescents were received by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) at the end of May 2003. These new data have been reviewed by an expert working group on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM). The data do not demonstrate efficacy in depressive illness in this age group and show an increase in the risk of episodes of self-harm and potentially suicidal behaviour in the Seroxat group compared to placebo. Various analyses suggest that the risk of these events is between 1.5 and 3.2 times greater with Seroxat compared to placebo. On the basis of these data, the CSM has advised that Seroxat should not be used in children and adolescents under the age of 18 years to treat depressive illness. This advice was communicated to health professionals via the Public Health Link on 10 June 2003 and was placed on the MHRA website, along with information for patients. Revised patient information leaflets containing the new advice are being sent to prescribers and pharmacists.
	Seroxat is not licensed for use in those under 18, but it is used in this age group outside its licensed indications where prescribes make a judgment on their own responsibility that it is the right treatment for a particular patient.
	SSRIs, including Seroxat, have been under close continuous review by the MHRA and the CSM for a number of years. The product information for SSRI antidepressants already contains advice that suicidal thoughts and behaviour are likely to increase in the early stages of treatment of depression (as with all antidepressants) and patient information leaflets already contain advice to seek medical attention urgently in the event of such symptoms.
	The CSM formally reviewed the issue of suicidal behaviour with SSRIs most recently in December 2001 and concluded that the evidence was not sufficient to confirm a causal association between SSRIs and suicidal behaviour, although an effect in a small high-risk population could not be ruled out. The CSM has advised that Seroxat is an effective treatment for adults with depressive illness and anxiety disorders and that the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks.
	The expert working group of the CSM will examine urgently what implications, if any, these new findings from clinical trials in children have for the use of Seroxat in adults and for other SSRIs.

Seroxat

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to expedite the review of (a) Seroxat and (b) other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors;
	(2)  what plans he has to improve the warnings given to (a) prescribers and (b) the public about the (i) side-effects and (ii) withdrawal effects of (A) Seroxat and (B) other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors;
	(3)  what plans he has to improve the effectiveness of the Yellow Card scheme for reporting adverse side-effects of drugs;
	(4)  if he will withdraw Seroxat from use for new prescribing pending a review of its and other SSRI anti-depressants' safety.

Stephen Ladyman: A new expert group of the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) has been convened to further review the safety of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and to ensure the advice in the product information for both patients and prescribers is optimal for the safe use of these products. This group has been asked to examine what implications, if any, the CSM's recent advice on the use of Seroxat in children have for the use of Seroxat in adults and for other SSRIs. The timetable for the group's programme of work has been planned with a view to the availability of advice as promptly as possible, commensurate with a full and detailed consideration of the evidence including the experiences of patients. As part of its initial considerations, the group has advised on strengthened advice on side effects and withdrawal reactions for inclusion in the patient information leaflet on Seroxat. Product information for other SSRIs will also be considered.
	The advice of the CSM, most recently in 2001, is that the benefits of Seroxat, when used in adults for licensed indications, outweigh the risks. Regulatory authorities world-wide have also taken a similar position. Depression and anxiety disorders are serious conditions that can cause severe suffering and are associated with an increased risk of suicide. The availability of effective treatments is critically important. In the absence of evidence indicating that the risks of using Seroxat in adults outweigh the benefits, it would be difficult to justify withdrawing the medicine from use.
	The Yellow Card Scheme is recognised to be one of the best in the world in terms of the level of reporting, has a proven track record of identifying new drug safety hazards and enables the monitoring of all medicines, including Seroxat, in clinical use. The effectiveness of the Scheme is under continuous review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the CSM. From April 2003, the first phase of patient reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions via NHS Direct was introduced. When fully rolled out in England and Wales, this will enable the first hand experiences of patients to be utilised in the identification and assessment of drug safety issues. Other measures to further strengthen the Yellow Card Scheme include a new regional monitoring centre, established in Scotland last year and the inclusion of education on yellow card reporting in the training of nurse prescribers.

Smoking

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of women aged under 30 who are smokers; what the figure was (a) five years and (b) 10 years ago; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 12 June 2003
	The available data are shown in the table.
	
		Prevalence of cigarette smoking among women aged 16 to 29, England, 1992, 1998 and 2001 
		
			 Cigarette smoking status Current cigarette smoker (percentage) 
		
		
			 1992 33 
			 1998 35 
			 2001 34 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Up until 2000, data on smoking prevalence from the General Household Survey were only available every two years.
	2. Data for 1998 and 2001 were weighted to compensate for under-representation of people in some groups: data for 1992, which were based on unweighted data, are not therefore directly comparable.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics: General Household Survey 2001, published as "Living in Britain: Results from the 2001 General Household Survey". Available from the internet at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/lib2001/index.html

Supported Living Schemes

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance the Government has issued about the signing of tenancy agreements for supported living schemes for adults with communication difficulties and other disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: In August 2002, the Department issued statutory guidance to local councils and the National Care Standards Commission on supported housing and care homes. This included guidance on tenancies, such as taking account of service users' ability to understand the detail of tenancies and communicate their wishes.

Welsh Patients

Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his oral answer of 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 20, to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) and his written answer of 17 June 2003, ref 117280, whether the two sets of figures for the number of Welsh patients treated in English hospitals in 2000–01 and 2001–02 were compiled on the same basis; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on 19 June 2003, Official Report, column 279W.
	The figure for 2000–01 referred to elective admissions, and the figure for 2001–02 referred to all admissions including emergency.

Welsh Patients

Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the trend in the number of Welsh patients treated in English hospitals over the last five years.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on Wednesday 18 June 2003, Official Report, column 279W.
	Over the last five years there has been an increase of over 5 per cent. in the number of admissions of Welsh patients to English hospitals.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Ministerial Meetings

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to meet Mr. L. K. Advani, the Indian Home Minister.

David Blunkett: I met Mr. L. K. Advani, the Indian Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister on 16 June 2003.

OCTV

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authorities in the UK have acquired OCTV systems in each of the last five years; what the cost of OCTV is in comparison to CCTV; and whether he has made an assessment of the effectiveness of OCTV in fighting crime.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office does not hold information on the number of Open Circuit Television (OCTV) systems acquired by local authorities.
	The cost comparison between an OCTV system and a conventional Close Circuit Television (CCTV) system is not straightforward owing to the differing natures of the two systems and reasons for their use. An OCTV system comprising of a Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) camera and computerised monitoring station will cost in the order of £12,000 (+VAT and delivery etc.). A typical single camera CCTV system will cost anything between £8,000 and £30,000 to purchase and install. On running costs, the OCTV system will incur mobile telephone call charges plus any standing charges. The CCTV system will possibly incur leasing fees for the transmission network.
	To help ensure maximum impact and sustainability of CCTV, a £1.5 million Home Office funded national evaluation programme is being carried out by the Scarman Centre, University of Leicester, on 15 approved CCTV Initiative schemes. However, no assessment has been made of the effectiveness of OCTV in fighting crime.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Government Consultations

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Minister for Women what action she has taken to encourage ministerial colleagues to include women's organisations in their consultation process relating to the work of their departments.

Patricia Hewitt: As Minister for Women, I take every opportunity to encourage my ministerial colleagues to include women in their departmental consultations. This follows guidelines issued by the Cabinet Office and by the Women and Equality Unit. The Women's National Commission (WNC), works with Government departments to ensure that there is an active dialogue with women during the course of consultations in policy-making.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Accident Group

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had about safeguarding the interests of clients of the Accident Group (a) whose claims have not been resolved and (b) whose claims have been resolved but in respect of which no payment has been made.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Where claims had not been processed prior to the company entering into Administration the clients are able to instruct other parties to pursue the claim. In cases where a claim had been agreed, or legal proceedings had been successful, the solicitors acting in the matter should receive the amount of the compensation and will be able to pass this on to the client. The Administrators are not aware of any specific cases where The Accident Group is holding compensation payments.

Accident Group

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the bodies investigating irregularities within the Accident Group; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The joint Administrators of The Accident Group will in due course file a report on the conduct of the directors of the company under the provisions of the Company Directors Disqualification Act. Although officials from the Insolvency Service have had discussions with the Administrators' staff the conduct of the administration is a matter for the joint administrators and the court.

Developing Countries

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are in place to ensure that British companies investing in developing countries will (a) be there as the result of invitations by people in the developing countries, (b) give employment to local people, (c) pay reasonable rates to those people and not exploit them and (d) not compete with existing practices in a way that undermines people's livelihoods.

Patricia Hewitt: In terms of encouraging and monitoring standards of good conduct by British companies in overseas markets, the Government attach considerable importance to the various voluntary multilateral initiatives that promote the principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR) such as the Global Reporting Initiative, the Ethical Trading Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
	In terms of the issues raised above, the Guidelines are particularly relevant. These address, in specific sections, areas of business responsibility and good practice that include such subjects as general policies, employment and industrial relations, consumer interests and competition. The Government, by means of the UK National Contact Point, encourage strongly companies' involvement in and adherence to the Guidelines; which are supported by the business community and trade union federations.
	The Government expect companies operating in the UK and UK companies investing overseas, to act in accordance with the principles set out in the Guidelines and to perform to at least the standards they suggest.

Developing Countries

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that international trade works in the interests of both developing and developed countries.

Patricia Hewitt: The World Bank estimates that eliminating all barriers to trade in goods could generate an extra US$250 billion to US$620 billion in global income, up to half of which would go to developing countries. In terms of poverty reduction, this could lift over 300 million people out of poverty by 2015.
	This is why the Government are ambitious about pursuing the development agenda for the current round of trade talks launched at the fourth WTO ministerial conference in Doha, Qatar in November 2001.
	I am working closely with Cabinet colleagues, as well as within the EU and internationally, to secure a successful outcome to the fifth WTO ministerial in Cancun, Mexico this September. We are committed to making sure that the Doha round delivers real benefits for the world's poor.

ECGD

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the payments made by the ECGD on contracts with a value in excess of £500,000 in each year since 1997, broken down by country.

Patricia Hewitt: This question cannot be answered except at disproportionate cost. However, for each of the financial years 1997–98 to 2002–03 I have provided a list showing the total value of ECGD claims by each of the defaulting buyers' host countries.
	Figures for 2002–03 are provisional.
	
		ECGD Claims Payments 1997–98 to 2002–03 -- Sterling equivalent
		
			 Country 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Grand total 
		
		
			 Algeria 23,693,674 3,049,252 — — — — 26,742,926 
			 Australia — — — — 1,167,570 3,489,194 4,656,764 
			 Belgium — — — — 1,634,019 14,038,784 15,672,803 
			 Brazil 367,750 — — — — — 367,750 
			 Cameroon 563,890 — — — — — 563,890 
			 Cote D'Ivoire 154,917 6,549,089 3,251,266 3,486,080 3,651,528 3,475,657 20,568,536 
			 Croatia — — — 201,998 — — 201,998 
			 Denmark 1,638,109 — — — — — 1,638,109 
			 Dominica — — — — — 1,181,816 1,181,816 
			 Egypt 10,273,471 1,812,134 24,117 842,350 — — 12,952,072  
			 El Salvador — — —  1,816,204 600,952 2,417,156 
			 Ethiopia 1,283,544 1,140,067 883,181 810,691 116,763 — 4,234,245 
			 France — — — — 179,170 — 179,170 
			 Ghana 33,109 2,344,492 3,872,028 16,433,380 32,745,333 32,320,082 87,748,425 
			 India 583,249 551,519 5,210,740 997,900 478,168 5,997,566 13,819,143 
			 Indonesia — 42,106,060 202,431,361 229,424,698 171,380,663 148,618,662 793,961,445  
			 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 37,717 — — — — — 37,717 
			 Iraq 4,629,181 — — — — 440,515 5,069,696  
			 Israel 2,166,773 261,260 — — — — 2,428,033 
			 Jordan 31,576,047 15,484,576 3,417,986 1,976,252 951,045 1,128,840 54,534,746 
			 Kazakhstan — — 88,608 — — — 88,608 
			 Kenya 48,059 14,522 1,462,896 8,554,364 1,259,150 2,908 11,341,898 
			 Lebanon — — 9,278 — — 26,784 36,061 
			 Malawi 788,474 -6,203 273,809 — — — 1,056,080 
			 Mexico 4,917,756 4,891,427 4,007,375 4,389,409 4,618,098 12,998,408 35,822,474 
			 Myanmar 1,462,325 — — — — — 1,462,325 
			 Nigeria 3,161,017 2,975,110 1,491,592 — — — 7,627,719 
			 Pakistan — 132,431 1,330,604 911,345 865,767 3,212,818 6,452,965 
			 Papua New Guinea — — 281,264 — — — 281,264 
			 Philippines — 4,938,200 14,950,920 — — — 19,889,121 
			 Russian Federation 51,338,444 44,356,694 38,542,408 2,813,649 20,350 — 137,071,545 
			 Seychelles — 805,748 3,890 597,703 1,228,176 193,601 2,829,118 
			 Switzerland — — — — 1,873,183 12,458,353 14,331,536 
			 Taiwan 281,219 256,764 235,545 — — — 773,528 
			 Thailand 0 — 1,362,912 — — — 1,362,912 
			 Turkey — — — — 354,684 678,794 1,033,478 
			 Turkmenistan — — — — 1,730,917 797 1,731,714 
			 USSR 14,012,568 10,538,118 9,610,478 2,708,565 29,923 — 36,899,651 
			 Zaire 2,599,918 1,220,560 — — — — 3,820,479 
			 Zimbabwe 24,783 202,558 2,066,681 23,854,103 23,851,577 20,584,967 70,584,667 
			 Grand total 155,635,994 143,624,378 294,808,938 298,002,487 249,952,289 261,449,499 1,403,473,584

ECGD

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the reinsurance contracts underwritten by ECGD including in each case (a) the reinsured party, (b) the underlying insured party and risk covered, (c) the cover provided and (d) the amounts paid in respect of these contracts, for each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: Since the start of 1997, ECGD has provided reinsurance to other Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) under Co-operation Agreements on 21 occasions in respect of medium/long-term business.
	Under the terms of the privatisation of its short-term underwriting business in 1991, ECGD has provided reinsurance in respect of short-term business underwritten by UK NCM (Gerling) Credit Insurance Ltd.. on four occasions.
	In respect of all 25 cases the cover provided has been reinsurance of all risks covered. The information requested on all cases is provided in the following two tables:
	
		
			 (a) Reinsured ECA (b) Underlying insured party Buyer type Market (d)  Claims paid (£) Guarantee date 
		
		
			 Coface (France) Matra Marconi Space UK Ltd. Corporate Singapore 0 1997 
			 Coface (France) Matra Marconi Space UK Ltd. Public Taiwan 0 1997 
			 Coface (France) MBDA UK Ltd. Sovereign Kuwait 0 1999 
			 Hermes (Germany) VAI Industries (UK) Ltd. Corporate Brazil 0 2001 
			 OND (Belgium) Kier Construction Ltd. Corporate India 0 2000 
			 Hermes (Germany) Matcon Ltd. Corporate Croatia 0 1998 
			 Coface (France) Cooper Rolls Ltd. Corporate United Arab Emirates 0 2000 
			 Hermes (Germany) Powergen UK Plc Sovereign Mexico 0 1999 
			 Hermes (Germany) VAI Industries (UK) Ltd. Sovereign Croatia 0 1999 
			 Coface (France) Trane (United Kingdom) Ltd. Corporate Turkey 0 1999 
			 Coface (France) Alstom Power UK Ltd. Corporate Algeria 0 2001 
			 Coface (France) Alstom Power Plants Ltd. Sovereign Turkey 0 2001 
			 Hermes (Germany) Motherwell Bridge Engineering Ltd. Corporate Dominican Republic 0 2000 
			 Sace (Italy) Saipem UK Ltd. Corporate Russian Federation 0 2001 
			 Oekb (Austria) VAI Industries (UK) Ltd. Corporate Brazil 0 2001 
			 Sace (Italy) Skanska Construction UK Ltd. Sovereign Iran (Islamic Republic of) 0 2001 
			 Sace (Italy) Shell research Ltd. Public Iran (Islamic Republic of) 0 2002 
			 Hermes (Germany) Traffic Safety Systems Ltd. Sovereign Romania 0 2002 
			 Export-Import Bank of the United States Rolls-Royce Plc Corporate Luxembourg 0 2002 
			 Export-Import Bank of the United States Rolls-Royce Plc Corporate Israel 0 2002 
			 Coface (France) MBDA UK Ltd. Sovereign United Arab Emirates 0 2002 
		
	
	
		
			 (a) Reinsured short-term insurer (b) Underlying insured party Buyer type Market (d) Claims paid (£) Guarantee date 
		
		
			 NCM Credit Insurance Ltd. Marconi Corporation Plc Corporate Germany 0 1998 
			 NCM Credit Insurance Ltd. Royal Ordnance Plc Sovereign Singapore 0 1998 
			 NCM Credit Insurance Ltd. BAE Systems (Defence Systems) Ltd. Public United Arab Emirates 0 1997 
			 NCM Credit Insurance Ltd. Rolls-Royce Industrial Power (India) Ltd. Corporate Canada 0 1998

Electronics Industry

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 326W, on the electronics industry, if she will make a statement on how the £100 million per annum to improve the skills base for electronics is to be spent.

Stephen Timms: By 2005–06 the Government will be investing an extra £100 million per annum to:
	increase the minimum PhD stipend to £12,000
	increase funds for PhD training
	provide 1,000 new academic fellowships over five years
	increase post-doctoral training
	increase post-doctoral research pay by around £4,000
	This investment will create a stronger science base and a pool of highly talented people with skills in engineering, science and technology to help drive innovation and support the UK's productivity and competitiveness, including the electronics industry.

Equal Pay

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on completing a pay audit in her Department and its non-departmental public bodies to measure any disadvantage in terms of remuneration for (a) women, (b) ethnic minorities and (c) people with disabilities; and if she will publish the results of such an audit.

Patricia Hewitt: DTI HQ, DTI Agencies and DTI NDPBs have all completed equal pay reviews. The majority, including DTI HQ, have focused on identifying any gender pay gaps that might exist but a number of the Agencies and NDPBs for which I have responsibility have additionally examined factors such as ethnicity, disability and age.
	It is my intention to place copies of the action plans for DTI HQ and DTI Agencies in the Libraries of the House in due course.

Foreign Direct Investment

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs have been created by foreign direct investment into the United Kingdom in the last (a) year, (b) five years and (c) 10 years.

Mike O'Brien: Figures for 2002–03 are currently being finalised and will be published on 9 July when Invest-UK announces its annual results. Copies of the report will be placed in the House of Common Library.
	Invest-UK recorded 107,706 jobs created by foreign owned companies between 1997 and 2002.
	Invest-UK recorded 182,819 jobs created by foreign owned companies between 1992 and 2002.
	The figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. There is no requirement to notify Invest-UK of such decisions, so these figures include those projects only where Invest-UK and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.

Foreign Direct Investment

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many manufacturing jobs have been created in the United Kingdom as a consequence of foreign direct investment in the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The number of manufacturing jobs created by inward investment in the UK that Invest-UK has recorded was 97,974 between 1997 and 2002.
	Figures for 2002–03 are currently being finalised and will be published on 9 July when Invest-UK announces its annual results. Copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. There is no requirement to notify Invest-UK of such decisions, so these figures include those projects only where Invest-UK and its regional partners were involved, or which have come to their notice.

GATS Negotiations

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on (a) the GATS negotiations and (b) the advantages of full trade liberalisation as a means to achieving development goals.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 18 June 2003
	The Government are working to ensure that GATS offers real benefits both to the UK, as the world's second largest exporter of services, and to developing country members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). We believe that the progressive, properly managed, liberalisation of services can stimulate economic growth and help reduce poverty. The World Bank estimates that a liberalising trade round could bring 300 million people out of poverty by 2015. Developing countries could increase their annual income by up to $60 billion for a relatively modest degree of services liberalisation. This is greater than total annual aid flows to developing countries ($50 billion).

Hotel Accommodation

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the amount spent by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on hotel accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) others, and if she will list the average cost per hotel room, in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government publishes an annual report of ministerial travel overseas, which provides figures for the total cost of ministerial travel including accommodation. The information sought in respect of accommodation in the UK is not held centrally. All ministerial travel is conducted in line with the requirements of the Ministerial Code.
	So far as staff are concerned, my Department has devolved to local management the authorisation of staff travel claims, subject to checking procedures. Travel and subsistence expenditure, including on accommodation, for DTI HQ (excluding British Trade International and the DTI Agencies) amounted to £8,061,894 in 2002–03, but the Department does not record centrally expenditure specifically on hotel accommodation, in the UK or otherwise, incurred by staff in HQ or the agencies, or the non-departmental public bodies which DTI sponsors. To provide the information requested would entail disproportionate cost.

Inward Investment Companies

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inward investment companies have located in the United Kingdom (a) in the past year, (b) in the past five years and (c) in the past 10 years.

Mike O'Brien: Figures for 2002–03 are currently being finalised and will be published on 9 July when Invest-UK announces its annual results. Copies of the report will be placed in the House of Common Library.
	Invest-UK recorded 1,548 new inward investment projects between 1997 and 2002.
	Invest-UK recorded 2,188 new inward investment projects between 1992 and 2002.
	The figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of announcement of the decision to invest in the UK. There is no requirement to notify Invest-UK of such decisions, so these figures include those projects where only Invest-UK and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice.

Iraq

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to improve the UK's trading relationship with Iraq.

Patricia Hewitt: British Trade International has set up an Industry Working Group, which will act as a channel of communication to industry in our work to help companies access opportunities in Iraq in the immediate future. We have increased the number of staff working on Iraq in the BTI HQ in London. We are planning to attach three UK-based commercial staff to the British Office in Baghdad as soon as the situation permits, in order to re-establish our trading relationship with Iraq.

Iraq

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with its US counterparts to secure a role for UK companies in the reconstruction of Iraq; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: We expect UK companies to play a significant role in the redevelopment of Iraq. In the short-term US funding is likely to be the main source of opportunities for UK companies. Full details of the US contracts are available on US Government websites.
	Andrew Natsios of US AID has confirmed to me that UK companies will be allowed and indeed encouraged to bid for US funded sub-contracts. My right hon. and noble Friend, the then Minister for Trade visited Washington on 15 and 16 May 2003 when she held talks with US AID, the State Department and, the US Army Corps of Engineers on redevelopment work in Iraq. We have also held a joint seminar with the US authorities in London on 23 May 2003. This demonstrates that US is interested in ensuring that UK companies are involved.

Jewellery (Manufacture and Sales)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value of (a) manufacturing and (b) consumer spending on jewellery in (i) the UK and (ii) the EU was in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement on her analysis of the trends emerging.

Patricia Hewitt: Official figures for the UK are shown in the following table. Manufacturers' sales do not include jewellery made by retail jewellers. The figures available for consumer spending do not distinguish between jewellery and watches and clocks. Equivalent figures are not available for the EU.
	
		
			  UK manufacturers' sales(6) Consumer spending(7) 
			  Jewellery Watches and clocks Jewellery, watches and clocks (£ million) 
		
		
			 1997 599 87 3,295 
			 1998 571 86 3,320 
			 1999 597 91 3,398 
			 2000 629 72 3,479 
			 2001 518 59 3,452 
			 2001 — — 3,497 
		
	
	(6) Product Sales and Trade (Prodcom) reports PRA 36220 Jewellery and Related Articles, PRA 36610 Imitation Jewellery and PRA 33500 Watches and Clocks
	(7) Consumer Trends—Household Final Consumption Expenditure
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Ministerial Conference (Cancun)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) UK and (b) EU priorities for the Fifth World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Cancun in September are.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 13 June 2003
	The mid-Round Ministerial Conference in Cancun is our main opportunity to provide increased political momentum towards a successful outcome to the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) by the current target of 1 January 2005.
	The UK and EU priority for Cancun is to seek an outcome which keeps all aspects of the DDA negotiations on track and within the single undertaking.
	As part of the DDA we are determined to reform agricultural trade, as agreed at Doha, by substantially improving market access, substantially reducing trade distorting domestic farm support and reducing, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies, which do so much harm to developing countries.
	On market access for non-agricultural goods we will be seeking significantly improved access market by tackling high tariffs, tariff peaks, tariff escalation and non-tariff barriers, in order to significantly increase trading opportunities for all WTO members, including between developing countries.
	We are hopeful that the services negotiations will bring considerable market opportunities for business as well as benefits to consumers world-wide. However, we are not seeking general deregulation or privatisation of sectors where principles of public interest are at stake, such as healthcare, education and the provision of water.
	We are committed to finding solutions to justified developing countries' concerns about implementation of existing WTO agreements, to their proposals for specific actions for Special and Differential Treatment and to providing trade-related assistance to help their participation in WTO negotiations, to implement the results of the DDA, and to build up their trade capacity.
	We believe that launching negotiations on the "Singapore Issues" (investment, competition, transparency in government procurement and trade facilitation) at Cancun will help provide predictability, transparency, secure market access gains, and level a playing field for all WTO members.
	In addition, we strongly welcome G8 leaders' commitment to securing a resolution to the issue of access to affordable medicines for developing countries, before Cancun.

Performing Rights Royalties

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received on performing rights royalties; and if she will review the operation of the system.

Patricia Hewitt: Hon. Members do, from time to time, forward their constituents' letters to me about performing rights royalties, but I have not recently received any direct representations on this subject. Copyright law that underpins these royalties is largely dictated by international and European law, but we are always open to any suggestions about how the system might be improved within those constraints.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many grants for research into rheumatoid arthritis were issued by the Medical Research Council in each of the last five years.

Patricia Hewitt: The spend figures on Arthritis and Rheumatism for the last five financial years, together with the number of projects in each financial year are as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Estimated spend(£ million) Number of projects(8) 
		
		
			 1997–98(9) 5.7 85 
			 1998–99(9) 5.1 68 
			 1999–2000 4.8 40 
			 2000–01 3.9 42 
			 2001–02 4.2 43 
		
	
	(8) Projects: this includes grants, units and fellowships
	(9) Since 1999–2000, MRC has prepared a breakdown of research expenditure into 12 disease-specific research divisions, one of these being Arthritis and Rheumatism. Before then, the breakdown was less detailed. Therefore the above figures for 1997–78 and 1998–99 are not directly comparable to the figures for the later three years. In order to produce these figures retrospectively MRC used the broader definition of the subject area which was in use at that time. Thus the higher numbers may simply reflect that change in definition.
	The data for 2002–03 is still being collated and final figures will be available in the autumn.

TransTec

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish the report of the investigation authorised under section 432(2) into TransTec plc.

Patricia Hewitt: The inspectors have submitted their final report and issues surrounding publication are currently being considered.

University Challenge Fund

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many academies have been sponsored to move into industry with the help of the University Challenge Fund; how many businesses have been (a) supported and (b) started up with help from the University Challenge Fund; how many of the businesses and projects supported have subsequently failed; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: I have taken the hon. Member to mean academics rather than academies. University Challenge is not designed to sponsor academics to move into industry, nor does it support established businesses. In their first three years of operation, the 15 Seed Funds established in 1999 have assisted the creation of 159 spinout companies. It is too early to assess the long-term survival rates of these companies, but an evaluation of the University Challenge Scheme is expected to begin in mid-autumn.

Vulnerable Borrowers

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to amend the Consumer Credit Act 1974; and if she will make a statement on measures aimed at protecting vulnerable borrowers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: A review of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 was launched by my predecessor in July 2001 with the publication of a consultation document "Tackling the loan sharks—and more!" A summary of responses was published in February 2002 and a progress report was published in August 2002.
	There has been further consultation on five key areas for reform:
	Increasing or removing the £25,000 financial limit in the Consumer Credit Act and reviewing the status of some exempt;
	Making the regulations on early settlement fair and equitable to both lenders and borrowers;
	Enabling lenders and consumers to be able to enter into and conclude credit agreements by electronic means;
	Reform of the consumer credit licensing regime; and
	Reform of the protections offered to consumers in respect of extortionate credit;
	Further consultation papers will focus on:
	Simplifying the consumer credit advertising regulations; and
	The form and content of credit agreements;
	I intend to complete an implementation plan later this year and implementation will begin in 2004.
	The consultation on making the extortionate credit provisions within the Consumer Credit Act 1974 more effective closed on 6 June 2003. The responses to this consultation are currently being analysed. Once this analysis is complete I will publish details of the measures I intend to take to protect vulnerable borrowers from exploitation.
	In addition a National Debt Helpline pilot was launched in March 2002 to give consumers free, easy access to debt advice and where appropriate help them to draw up debt repayment plans to manage their debts. This project is funded jointly by the Government and the credit and finance industry.
	The pilot aims to test how effectively consumer debt problems can be resolved by a national telephone advice and to establish the strength of the case for a national free money advice service. Since 1 March 2002 the National Debtline has helped 29,412 people with debt problems. They deal with 700 calls per week, providing a wide range of advice including on income maximisation, bankruptcy and debt management schemes to a wide variety of people from various social and economic groups.

World Trade Organisation

Julia Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on consultations between her Department and campaigners for fair trade before the 5th WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun.

Patricia Hewitt: I meet regularly with representatives from civil society to discuss the Government's international trade policy. I last met with representatives from the Trade Justice Movement on 21 May to discuss how we can ensure that this is a true development round.
	Campaigners for fairer trade help to raise the profile of trade and development issues. It is important that the Government and campaigners for trade justice continue to work together to ensure that the Doha Development Agenda becomes a reality.
	A representative from Action Aid will be part of the official UK delegation to the WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun and, as I recently announced to the House, I have accepted an invitation from Christian Aid to visit Guatemala prior to the Cancun meeting.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Bereavement Benefit

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to revise the operation of bereavement benefit, in respect of the rule regarding the awarding of this benefit to a widower after the payment by his spouse of the married women's reduced rate of national insurance contributions; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The bereavement benefit scheme introduced much needed reform to the support available in bereavement and provides cover for both spouses in the event of either's premature death, based on the qualifying national insurance contribution record of the deceased person.
	Some married women made an informed choice to pay a reduced rate of national insurance contributions, in return for which they receive reduced benefit entitlements. This applies to bereavement benefits and we have no plans to change this.

Carers

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many carers over 65 years of age have (a) claimed and (b) received carers allowance since 28 October 2002.

Maria Eagle: The information is in the table and relates to the period 28 October 2002 to 31 December 2002. The majority of carers aged 65 and over who qualify for carer's allowance also receive a state pension of an equal or higher amount. In these circumstances, the overlapping benefits rules preclude the payment of carer's allowance. However, people affected in this way can, if they are on a low income, qualify for the carer premium payable with income related benefits.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Claims 9,950 
			 Entitled 7,615 
			 In payment 325 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Figures refer to the number of people making a claim and each person may have made more than one claim. Figures relate to people aged 65 and over; State Pension age is 60 for women and 65 for men.
	3. Figures exclude advance claims made prior to 28 October 2002.
	Source:
	100 per cent data from the CA Computer System (CACS) supplied by Information and Analysis Directorate. Figures are at 31 December 2002.

Council Tax Benefit

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what provision he is making to advertise entitlement to council tax benefit.

Maria Eagle: Council tax benefit is administered by over 400 local authorities, each of which is required by legislation to take appropriate steps to ensure that people with a potential entitlement to council tax benefit are made aware of the help available.
	Information is also contained in leaflet GL17 'Help with your Council Tax Benefit' as well as various other information leaflets and posters produced by the Department. Leaflets can be obtained from local Jobcentre Plus, Pension Service and Social Security offices as well as a number of other outlets including doctors' surgeries, post offices, chemists and supermarkets.
	In addition, information about council tax benefit can be accessed on the Department's website at www.dwp.gov.uk.

Employment, Social Policy, Health andConsumer Affairs Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the outcome was of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council on 2–3 June; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: My hon. Friend, then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health (David Lammy), represented the UK for the Health element of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 2 June.
	The main health business of this Council related to the Safety of Tissues and Cells Directive. The Council reached political agreement on a text that did not include any of the amendments, proposed by the European Parliament at its first reading, to which the UK was strongly opposed. The UK voted in support of the Council text.
	The Council adopted a proposal which will enable member states to sign the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The UK voted in favour of this proposal.
	Member states also reached political agreement on two elements of the Pharmaceuticals Review. These address changes to the human medicines directive, and to the Regulation that established the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (the EMEA) and a Community marketing authorisation procedure for certain human and veterinary medicines. The UK voted in favour of the Council text overall. A progress report was received on the veterinary medicines directive on which discussions are not as far advanced.
	The Council adopted Council Conclusions on combating Stigma in relation to Mental Illness, the product of a Conference, which took place in Athens under the Greek Presidency. The UK voted in favour of adopting these Conclusions.
	The Commission updated the Council on activities in the area of joint activity on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), including the announcement of funding into diagnostics research. They also gave an update on the High Level process of reflection on patient mobility and health care development, indicating that the second Ministerial plenary session would take place in July.
	Under any other business the Commission updated the Council on the programme of co-operation on bioterrorism and health security. The Commission also presented a proposed Recommendation on Cancer Screening. Voting was not required on either of these items. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Andrew Smith) represented the UK together with my hon. Friend, then Minister for Employment Relations, Industry and the Regions (Alan Johnson), at the Employment and Social Policy part of the ESPHCA on 3 June in Luxembourg.
	The Council agreed a general approach to the 2003 Employment Guidelines. The EP will now be consulted as directed by the Treaty and the Guidelines will be adopted at a future Council as an A point. The UK are content with the simplified guidelines which are more focused on the employment targets set at Lisbon in 2000 and are geared more towards outcomes. Council also agreed the Recommendations on member states employment policies, the second part of the Employment package.
	There was a lengthy discussion on the proposed Directive on Temporary Agency workers which was originally tabled for political agreement. The Council was unable to reach agreement on the proposal and the Presidency remitted further negotiations to the Italian Presidency, recalling that the Brussels Spring Council urged agreement on the directive by December 2003. The UK maintained its position that it could back a directive that supported agency workers without putting their jobs at risk. Any directive must reflect the realities of our labour market.
	Council agreed the rest of the items on the agenda with little or no discussion. Council reached political agreement on a regulation on the European Co-operative Statute and a parallel directive on employee involvement.
	Council also reached political agreement on a Decision setting up an Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work. The UK and Denmark made a written declaration, to be included in the minutes of the Council, regretting the use of Article 202 as the legal base for this Decision.
	Council adopted two Resolutions without discussion: one Resolution on building social and human capital in the knowledge society; and a second on promoting the employment and social integration of people with disabilities.
	Council also agreed a general approach on the three chapters of a Regulation to replace Regulation 1408/71, the co-ordination of member states' social security systems, that have been discussed under the Greek Presidency. The chapters concerned cover invalidity benefits, pensions and special non-contributory benefits. Work will continue under the Italian Presidency with a view to completing the simplification of this regulation by December 2003, as requested by the European Council at Barcelona in 2002.
	The Council approved, without debate, the Social Protection Committee's plans to carry out themed studies on pensions issues.
	Under the Council's new rules of procedure, both the Commission and the Presidency presented Any Other Business items as written information. There was no discussion of these points.
	No votes were taken in this part of the Council.

Pensioners (Benefit Payments)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's estimate was of the total number of residents eligible for a state pension and of these (a) the number who claimed a state pension, (b) the number who applied for minimum income guarantee support, (c) the number refused MIG support and (d) the number in receipt of disability assistance in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: Information is not available for the number of minimum income guarantee (MIG) applications made each year or the number refused. Information is also not available on the number of resident people who are either eligible for, or have claimed state pension. Such information as is available is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Total number of State Pension recipients in GB Total number ofpeople over state pension age receiving sickness/disability benefit in GB Total number of MIG recipients in GB 
		
		
			 1998 10,036,300 Not available 1,640,900 
			 1999 10,131,700 2,381,000 1,625,500 
			 2000 10,185,400 2,470,000 1,675,200 
			 2001 10,256,100 2,501,000 1,741,300 
			 2002 10,310,900 2,555,000 1,767,500 
		
	
	Note:
	Sickness/disability benefits include incapacity benefit, severe disablement Allowance, disability living allowance, attendance allowance and income support with a disability premium.
	Source:
	Pension Strategy Computer System 5 per cent. sample
	Client Group Analysis of the population over State Pension Age
	Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries November 1997-November 2002

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what programme of activities is planned for the British Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) is due to deploy to Mazar-e Sharif next month when it will begin its tasks of spreading the influence of the Afghan Transitional Authority, stimulating Security Sector Reform (SSR) and facilitating reconstruction. These aims will be achieved through liaison with local leaders, monitoring and assessment of local conditions and progress with SSR. The PRT will engage closely with Non-Governmental Organizations and international agencies.

Armoured Battlefield Support Vehicles

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of vehicles to be procured under the (a) FRES, (b) FCLV, (c) Warrior MLI and (d) Armoured Battlefield Support Vehicle programmes.

Adam Ingram: No decisions have yet been made regarding the quantities of vehicles that might be acquired under any of these programmes. These determinations are normally made as part of the main investment approval for a project.

Army Uniforms

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hats available to the Guards Regiment have been made from real fur; from which animals they have been derived; and how many animals he estimates would have been killed to provide the fur used.

Adam Ingram: The only hat available to the Guards Regiments made from real fur is the ceremonial bearskin cap, which is made from the fur of the Black Bear. The Regiment currently holds 2,258 of these caps. It is not possible to accurately estimate the number of pelts used, as the number required for each cap varies; one bear pelt can make on average between one and two caps. A total of 1,396 caps have been procured over the last 10 years (1993 to 2002). Since 2001, a refurbishment programme has been in place designed to ensure that we reduce the requirement for new caps to a minimum. A total of 329 caps have been refurbished since this programme began.

Boscombe Down

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) military, (b) Civil Service and (c) civilian contractor or other personnel are employed at the National Flight Testing Centre at Boscombe Down.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence aircraft test and evaluation site at Boscombe Down is operated by QinetiQ plc. MOD and QinetiQ records show that the numbers of personnel employed at the Boscombe Down site as at 11 June 2003 were as follows.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Military 408 
			 Civil Servants 102 
			 QinetiQ personnel 1,343 
			 Other contractors 770

Colombia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military and security assistance for Colombia is provided by the Government (a) bilaterally and (b) multilaterally; and what conditions and restrictions are placed on this aid.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 19 June 2003
	We do from time to time provide military and security advice and assistance to Colombia. The nature of this advice and assistance is confidential between Governments and I am withholding the details under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers information whose disclosure would be harmful to national security, defence or international relations.

C130K Fleet

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated run on costs are for the (a) C130K and (b) C17 aircraft; and what additional structural work will be needed on the C130K fleet to keep the aircraft operational until their out of service date.

Adam Ingram: The cost of maintaining the C130K fleet is estimated at around £30 million per year (covering maintenance and support, but not the cost of aircrew, fuel, etc.). Based on current plans, it is expected that these aircraft will be withdrawn from service around the end of this decade. To ensure that the fleet remains operational up to this point, it is expected that modifications will be required on most of the fleet to maintain structural integrity of the aircraft. A more substantial work package, including outer wing replacement, may be required for several C130K aircraft that have undertaken more demanding flying tasks during recent operations.
	We currently operate four C-17 aircraft obtained under lease until 2008. If we exercise the option to extend the lease on all four to 2010, the additional costs are estimated at around £130 million in total. This sum includes the cost of the lease extension and in-service costs for the two-year period 2008–10.

Defence Contracts

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the (a) date of initial gate approval, (b) target date for main gate approval, (c) approved cost of the assessment phase and (d) cost of demonstration and manufacture phase at initial gate are for the (i) Future Joint Combat Aircraft, (ii) Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft, (iii) in Transit Visibility, (iv) Indirect Fire Precision Attack, (v) Inner London Barracks, (vi) Integrated Ground Based Air Defence Phase 1, (vii) Light Forces Anti-tank Guided Weapon and (viii) Microwave Landing System programmes;
	(2)  what the (a) date of initial gate approval, (b) target date for main gate approval, (c) approved cost of the assessment phase and (d) cost of demonstration and manufacture phase at initial gate are for the (i) Mine Detection and Neutralisation, (ii) Northwood refurbishment, (iii) Precision Guided Bomb, (iv) Project Allenby/Connaught, (v) Project Aquatrine (provision of water and sewerage services) —Packages B and C, (vi) Project Falcon—Land Formation Communication System, (vii) Project PICASSO (imagery and geospatial intelligence production system) and (viii) Sender: Unmanned Air Vehicle programmes;
	(3)  what the (a) approved cost of the assessment phase, (b) actual cost of assessment phase and (c) most likely cost of demonstration and manufacture phase was at (i) initial gate and (ii) main gate for (i) Project Aquatrine (provision of water and sewerage services) —Package A, (ii) Typhoon International Weapon System Support System, (iii) Light Forces Anti-Tank Guided Weapons, (iv) Scotland Regional Prime Contract, (v) Neptune regeneration project (HMNB Clyde Accommodation), (vi) SSN Berthing and (vii) Defence High Frequency Communications Service;
	(4)  what the (a) approved cost of the assessment phase, (b) actual cost of assessment phase and (c) most likely cost of demonstration and manufacture phase was at (i) initial gate and (ii) main gate for (A) Heavy Equipment Transporter, (B) Astute Class Training Services, (C) Surface Ship Torpedo Defence, (D) Tornado GR4 Upgraded Main Computer Programme, (E) Armed Forces Pay and Administration Agency, (F) Generic Helicopter Health and Usage Monitoring System, (G) Battlegroup Thermal Imaging and (H) Wheeled Tanker;
	(5)  what the (a) approved cost of the assessment phase, (b) actual cost of assessment phase and (c) most likely cost of demonstration and manufacture phase was at (i) initial gate and (ii) main gate for (A) BOWMAN Radio, (B) P2P (Purchase to Payment), (C) Support Vehicles, (D) Skynet 5, (E) Next Generation Light Anti-armour Weapon, (F) Field Electrical Power Supplies, (G) Single Living Accommodation and (H) Digitization of the Land Battlefield;
	(6)  what (a) the date of initial gate approval, (b) target date for main gate approval and (c) date of main gate approval is for (i) Project Aquatrine (provision of water and sewerage services)—Package A, (ii) Typhoon International Weapon System Support System, (iii) Light Forces Anti-Tank Guided Weapon (iv) Scotland Regional Prime Contract, (v) Neptune regeneration project (HMNB Clyde Accommodation), (vi) SSN Berthing and (vii) Defence High Frequency Communications Service;
	(7)  what the (a) approved cost of the assessment phase, (b) actual cost of assessment phase and (c) most likely cost of demonstration and manufacture phase was at (i) initial gate and (ii) main gate for (A) Colchester Garrison, (B) Main Building Refurbishment, (C) SA80 Upgrade, (D) Survey Vessels, (E) Defence Housing Executive PFI Housing Project, (F) Defence Electronic Commerce Service, (G) White Fleet PFI and (H) Roll-On Roll-Off Ferries;
	(8)  what the (a) date of initial gate approval, (b) target date for main gate approval, (c) approved cost of the assessment phase and (d) cost of demonstration and manufacture phase at initial gate are for the (i) Sonar and Signature Improvement, (ii) Soothsayer: Electronic Warfare, (iii) Support Amphibious Battlefield Rotorcraft—Search and Rescue, (iv) Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft, (v) Temporary Deployable Accommodation, (vi) Tri-Service Airfield Support Services Project, (vii) Tubed Artillery Conventional Ammunition System, (viii) UK Co-operative Engagement Capability and (x) UK Military Flying Training System programmes;
	(9)  what the (a) date of initial gate approval, (b) target date for main gate approval, (c) date of main gate approval are for the (i) Colchester Garrison, (ii) Main Building Refurbishment, (iii) SA80 Upgrade, (iv) Survey Vessels, (v) Defence Housing Executive PFI Housing Project, (vi) Defence Electronic Commerce Service, (vii) White Fleet PFI and (viii) Roll-On Roll-Off Ferries programmes;
	(10)  what the (a) date of initial gate approval, (b) target date for main gate approval, (c) approval cost of the assessment phase, and (d) cost of demonstration and manufacture phase at initial gate are for the (i) Armoured Vehicles Training Service, (ii) Battlefield Light Utility Helicopter, (iii) Battlegroup Thermal Imaging, (iv) C Vehicles, (v) Combined Aerial Targets Service, (vi) Counter Anti-Radiation Missile Suite, (vii) Cyprus Accommodation and (viii) Defence Estates Regional Prime Contracting programmes;
	(11)  what the (a) date of initial gate approval, (b) target date for main gate approval, (c) approval cost of the assessment phase, and (d) cost of demonstration and manufacture phase at initial gate are for the (i) Defence Housing Executive Management Information System, (ii) Defence Housing Executive Prime Contract+, (iii) Defence Information Infrastructure, (iv) Defence Logistics Organisation Information Strategy Programme, (v) Defence Medical Information Capability Programme, (vi) Defence Training Review, (vii) Future Command and Liaison Vehicles and (viii) Future Integrated Soldier Technology programmes;
	(12)  what the (a) date of initial gate approval, (b) target date for main gate approval and (c) date of main gate approval are for the (i) Heavy Equipment Transporter, (ii) Astute Class Training Services, (iii) Surface Ship Torpedo Defence, (iv) Tornado GR4 Upgraded Main Computer, (v) Armed Forces Pay and Administration Agency, (vi) Generic Helicopter Health and Usage Monitoring System, (vii) Battlegroup Thermal Imaging and (viii) Wheeled Tanker programmes;
	(13)  what the (a) date of initial gate approval, (b) target date for main gate approval and (c) date of main gate approval are for the (i) BOWMAN Radio, (ii) P2P (Purchase to Payment), (iii) Support Vehicles, (iv) Skynet 5, (v) Next Generation Light Anti-armour Weapon, (vi) Field Electrical Power Supplies, (viii) Single Living Accommodation and (viii) Digitization of the Land Battlefield programmes.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Defence Procurement

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the expected (a) cost and (b) commissioning date is of the Meteor BVRAAM missile; and what estimates were made when the contract was let;
	(2)  what the expected (a) cost and (b) commissioning date are of the Swiftsure, Astute and Trafalgar submarines; and what estimates were made when the contracts were let;
	(3)  what the current expected (a) cost and (b) commissioning date is of the Bowman Communication System; and what estimates were made when the contract was let;
	(4)  what the (a) cost and (b) expected commissioning date are of Watchkeeper; and what estimates were made when the contract was let;
	(5)  what the expected (a) cost and (b) commissioning date is of the Eurofighter; and what estimates were made when the contract was let;
	(6)  if he will make a statement in relation to the (a) cost and (b) expected commissioning date of the (i) light forces anti-tank guided weapon system, (ii) Nimrod MR A4 aircraft, (iii) A 400M aircraft and (iv) the ASRAAM missile; and what estimates of both were made when the contracts were let.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Hansardreference Project Date contract let Current forecast ISD Current forecast cost (£ billion) Estimated ISD at time contract let Estimated cost at time contract let (£ billion) 
		
		
			 112060 LFATGWS 2003 2006 0.340 2006 0.340 
			 112060 MRA4 1996 2009 (10)3.4 2003 2.9 
			 112060 A400M 2003 2011 2.4 2011 2.4 
			 112060 Asraam 1992amended 1999 2002 0.860 (11)1998 
			 2001 0.870 
			 110347 Meteor Bvraam 2002 2012 1.4 2012 1.4 
			 110351 Swiftsure and Trafalgar Update Eight contracts noviated to onein 1997–98 2004 0.730 2002 0.620 
			 110351 Astute 1997 (3 boats) 2008 3.6 2005 2.7 
			 110345 Bowman(12) 2001,extended 2002 2004 2.0 2004 
			 2004 1.9 
			 2.1 
			 110352 Watchkeeper(13) Contract not yet let 2006 0.860 n/a n/a 
			 110346 Typhoon(14) 1998 2003 19.7 2002 19.1 
		
	
	(10) This cost is subject to contract negotiations which are scheduled to be completed in the summer.
	(11) The Asraam ISD was re-approved in 1999, to 2001.
	(12) The Bowman costs refer to the design and manufacture phase only.
	(13) Cost and ISD are indicative only at this pre Main Gate point.
	(14) 'Date contract let' relates to award of the Overarching Production Investment and Production Contract and the order for Tranche 1 aircraft in 1998.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the proposed ESDP operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be flagged under the EU flag; whether armed forces personnel will wear EU insignia on their uniforms; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The forces participating in the operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo will be under the political control and strategic direction of the EU Council of Ministers. This is exercised through the Political and Security Committee which is comprised of representatives of member states. We expect that personnel and equipment participating in the operation will carry some form of identifying EU insignia, as is the case for the EU-led operation in Macedonia. This follows the example of NATO operations where participating forces are expected to wear NATO insignia.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the (a) military criteria and (b) benchmarks for success for the ESDP operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Adam Ingram: In response to a request from the UN Secretary General, the EU decided on 5 June to lead a multinational force to Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo under ESDP. UNSCR 1484 gives a limited and specific mandate which expires on 1 September 2003. The mandate authorises an Interim Multinational Force to:
	Contribute to stabilising the town of Bunia and improving the humanitarian situation there;
	Secure the airport, thereby facilitating the arrival of additional forces by the UN.
	The military are tailoring an interim force to meet this short-term, focussed mandate. The success of the operation will be measured against the mandate.

Desert Combat Clothing

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether orders of desert combat clothing have been found to be sub-standard.

Adam Ingram: To date, we have had no reports through the official defect reporting system of any sub-standard items of desert combat clothing.
	However, a small number of desert boots supplied by a contractor were found to be sub-standard and were rejected on inspection at the depot. They were not issued to troops.

Desert Terrains

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the performance of (a) tanks and (b) engineering works project-related vehicles working within desert terrains.

Adam Ingram: An assessment is made during the acquisition process of the performance of all new equipment (including main battle tanks and armoured engineer vehicles) in those environments in which they are expected to operate. This is supplemented by experience from major exercises and operations. Post-operational reporting will provide analysis and assessment of the performance of equipment deployed on operations in Iraq. Further assessment would be undertaken if changes to defence planning assumptions subsequently affected the environments in which it was planned to operate this equipment.

Early Leavers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 303W, on early leavers, what research his Department has commissioned on changes in the number of naval personnel leaving the Service by premature voluntary retirement between 2000–01 and 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The increase in the number of premature voluntary retirements in 2001–02 is primarily due to a reduction in the notice period for ratings from 18 to 12 months in that year, and is not the subject of any further specific investigation. However, reducing the outflow of personnel from the Naval Service is a key strategic objective of the Navy Board which is being implemented through a Retention Campaign, including initiatives on terms and conditions of service, rebalancing lives, remuneration and career management.

Eurofighter Typhoon

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been allocated by his Department for the Eurofighter Typhoon; how much he expects this programme to cost; and when he will make a full financial commitment.

Adam Ingram: Funding is allocated for in-year expenditure only. Provision for future years' expenditure is made in the annually revised Equipment Plan. In the case of Typhoon, the allocation for equipment acquisition for 2003–2004 is £1,158 million. We currently estimate that the total procurement cost of Typhoon will be £19.7 billion. Typhoon is planned to be procured in three tranches. The first tranche is already on order and in production. We plan to place orders for the second and third tranches of aircraft in 2003 and 2007 respectively.

Executive Agencies

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the Defence Secondary Care Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of the agency are; and how these figures compare to 2002.

Ivor Caplin: The Defence Secondary Care Agency was disbanded on 31 March 2003 and its functions were subsumed by the Defence Medical Education and Training Agency and the Defence Medical Services Department. The Agency employed an average of 2,282 military and civilian people between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2003 of which 11 were employed in Scotland. This compares with 2,317 in the preceding financial year of which 10 were employed in Scotland. The personnel costs of the Agency for the financial year ending 31 March 2003 are subject to the outcome of routine audit by the National Audit Office and will form part of the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts which is expected to be published in July and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House. The Agency's personnel costs in the financial year ending 31 March 2002 were £87.73 million.

Executive Agencies

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the National Codification Bureau; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of the agency are; and how these figures compare to 2002.

Ivor Caplin: As at 1 January 2003 there were 95 people in post working for the United Kingdom National Codification Bureau (UKNCB), all of which are employed in Glasgow. The total annual personnel costs of UKNCB as at 1 January 2003 were approximately £2.6 million. For the comparable 12 month period as at 1 January 2002 there were 99 people in post employed by UKNCB, all in Scotland. The comparable annual personnel costs of the Agency as at 1 January 2002 were £2.3 million.

Executive Agencies

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the Directorate General Commercial Organisation; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of the agency are; and how these figures compare to 2002.

Ivor Caplin: The Director General Commercial is the Professional Head of the Ministry of Defence's Commercial Function. He is professionally responsible for all commercial posts throughout the MOD, some 1,900 staff in total. Approximately 150 of these are based in Scotland. These staff figures are unchanged from 2002. The Director General Commercial Organisation is a term used to describe collectively the commercial staff within the MOD. It is neither an agency, nor a budgetary element within the Department. The costs of commercial staff are borne by their parent Top Level Budget organisations.

Executive Agencies

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the Disposal Services Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of the agency are; and how these figures compare to 2002.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to page 36 of the Disposal Services Agency (DSA)'s Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02, which was laid before the House on 19 July 2002. For Financial Year 2002–03 the personnel costs are approximately £3 million, subject to audit. Of the 87 personnel employed in 2003, three personnel are employed in Scotland, the same number as last year.

Executive Agencies

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the Defence Bills Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of the agency are; and how these figures compare to 2002.

Ivor Caplin: The Defence Bills Agency do not employ any staff in Scotland. The forecast costs and the average number of whole-time equivalent people employed (including Agency senior managers) was as follows:
	
		
			 Forecast Full-time equivalents Personnel costs (£000) 
		
		
			 2003–04 572 11,991 
			 2002–03 591 11,572 
		
	
	The Agency's Annual Report and Accounts for 2002–03 is expected to be published before the summer recess. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Gulf War Syndrome

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the outcome of the appeal in the case of Mr. Shaun Rusling, and its implications for other Service personnel suffering illnesses due to mobilisation for or action in the 1991 Gulf War.

Ivor Caplin: The High Court judgment of 13 June 2003 against the Ministry of Defence, as appellant, rested on a number of considerations. A key consideration was that the Pensions Appeal Tribunal was entitled to find, in Mr. Rusling's case, that the Ministry of Defence had failed to show beyond reasonable doubt that disablement due to 'Gulf War Syndrome', which he claimed in 1994, was neither attributable nor aggravated by his Service in the armed forces. The High Court made it clear that it was not in a position to express any views on whether, according to current medical research, 'Gulf War Syndrome' was or was not a 'single disease entity', and the judge confirmed that the court had not expressed any such view in its judgment. The court confirmed that all other cases would have to be decided on their own facts.
	We would not expect the level of Mr. Rusling's war pension to be affected by this judgment as the disablement that he describes as 'Gulf War Syndrome' is already being fully compensated for in his war pension award, using the World Health Organisation's International Classification of diseases, 10th edition, (ICD10) category, "Signs, Symptoms and Ill-Defined Conditions".
	Of those veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf conflict who have already claimed for conditions they attribute to their Service in the armed forces, many have already received a war pension. These awards have been based on consideration on whether there was evidence of disablement and whether this was attributable to Service. Where these have been satisfied, an award has been made. Similarly, therefore, the eligibility for an award and its level has not been affected by the issue of whether or not there was a single disease entity, 'Gulf War Syndrome'.

HMS Tireless

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what object HMS Tireless recently hit while sailing in the Arctic; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 11 June 2003
	HMS Tireless suffered some external damage as a result of contact with a free-floating object. It is unfortunate that both surface vessels and submarines occasionally suffer damage from hitting free-floating objects such as large timbers or containers which have fallen from ships.
	Publication of information on the precise nature of the free-floating object could provide an indication of the location of a submarine at the time of the contact. I am, therefore, withholding information on the precise category of free-floating object, in accordance with Exemption 1a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to national security.

Iraq

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ALARM missiles were fired by (a) Tornado F3 and (b) Tornado GR4 during Operation Telic.

Adam Ingram: United Kingdom forces fired in the region of 45 ALARM missiles during Operation Telic. All were fired by Tornado GR4 aircraft.

Joint Strike Fighter

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been allocated by his Department for the Joint Strike Fighter; how much he expects this programme to cost; and when he expects to make a full financial commitment.

Adam Ingram: Funding is allocated for in-year expenditure only. Provision for future years' expenditure is made in the annually revised Equipment Plan. In the case of Joint Strike Fighter, the allocation for equipment procurement for 2003–2004 is £138 million. We currently anticipate that the procurement cost of the Joint Strike Fighter programme will be up to £10 billion dependent on the number of aircraft acquired and how they are supported. Full financial commitment is not anticipated before 2006.

Joint Strike Fighter

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the minimum number of joint strike fighter ASTOVL variants below which purchase by the UK would no longer be financially viable.

Adam Ingram: None. Our current planning assumption is to acquire up to 150 short take off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the joint strike fighter (JSF) to meet our future joint combat aircraft (FJCA) requirement. But no decision has yet been taken and final numbers will depend on the outcome of on-going work to confirm future United Kingdom fast jet requirements. The estimated cost of acquiring 150 STOVL JSF is taken into account in the Department's forward resource plans.

Medical Personnel

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Storm Shadow missiles were used during the Iraq conflict; and if he will make a statement on its operational effectiveness.

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Storm Shadow missiles were fired by Tornado bombers during Operation Telic.

Adam Ingram: 27 Storm Shadow Missiles were used during recent operations in Iraq and are considered to have performed highly effectively.

Medical Personnel

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) precision and (b) non-precision bombs were used by British forces during operations in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: British Forces used in the region of 780 precision bombs and in the region of 140 non-precision bombs during operations in Iraq.

Medical Personnel

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of available stocks of (a) precision guided munitions and (b) non-precision guided munitions were used during the Iraq conflict.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding this information under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Medical Personnel

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what stocks of (a) solid propellant, (b) other fuel, including unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine, (c) oxidiser and (d) other related materials capable of use with short or medium range ballistic missiles capable of being fired at ranges (i) no greater than 150km and (ii) greater than 150km have (A) been captured by and (B) fallen into the possession of coalition forces in Iraq;
	(2)  what transporter-erector-launchers, other mobile launchers, fixed launchers, support vehicles or other related equipment capable of use with short or medium range ballistic missiles capable of being fired at ranges (a) no greater than 150km and (b) greater than 150km have (i) been captured by and (ii) fallen into the possession of Coalition forces in Iraq;
	(3)  what stocks of warheads, airframes, engine components or guidance and control components capable of use with short or medium range ballistic missiles with the capable of being fired at ranges (a) no greater than 150km and (b) greater than 150km have been identified as having been destroyed (i) by Coalition forces and (ii) other causes during the recent conflict;
	(4)  what (a) drawings, (b) technical, research, production, testing, administrative or other documentation, (c) computer diskettes, (d) video tapes or other data storage media, (e) training aids and (f) remnants of tested or destroyed items have been (i) identified by the Coalition as related to Iraqi short or medium range missile programmes and (ii) seized;
	(5)  what stocks of warheads, airframes, engine components or guidance and control components capable of use with short or medium range ballistic missiles capable of being fired at ranges (a) no greater than 150km and (b) greater than 150km have (i) been captured and (ii) fallen into the possession of Coalition forces in Iraq;
	(6)  how many short or medium range ballistic missiles capable of being fired at ranges (a) no greater than 150km and (b) greater than 150km have (i) been captured by and (ii) fallen into the possession of Coalition forces on Iraq;
	(7)  how many short or medium range ballistic missiles capable of being fired at ranges (a) no greater than 150km and (b) greater than 150km have been identified as having been destroyed, prior to launch, (i) by Coalition forces and (ii) by other causes during the recent conflict in the Gulf;
	(8)  what stocks of (a) solid propellant, (b) other fuel (including unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine), (c) oxidiser and (d) other related materials capable of use with short or medium range ballistic missiles capable of being fired at ranges (i) no greater than 150km and (ii) greater than 150km have been identified as having been destroyed (A) by Coalition forces and (B) other causes during the recent conflict;
	(9)  what transporter-erector-lauchers, other mobile launchers, fixed launchers, support vehicles or other related equipment capable of use with short or medium range ballistic missiles capable of being fired at ranges (a) no greater than 150km and (b) greater than 150km have been identified as having been destroyed by (i) Coalition forces and (ii) other causes during the recent conflict in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: Coalition forces are currently conducting investigations into Iraq's programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction. One aim of these investigations will be to account for Iraq's illegal weapons programmes, including ballistic missiles with proscribed ranges and associated materials, and their final dispositions. We are confident that further evidence of Iraq's illegal weapons programmes, including ballistic missiles with proscribed ranges, will be uncovered. At the appropriate time, we will make the evidence public.

Medical Personnel

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) secondments and (b) advisers have been attached to his forces in Iraq to assist with or advise on United States peace keeping operations; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 3 June 2003
	There are some 40 military and civilian personnel attached to United States forces in order to assist or advise them with peace keeping operations. Some 15 more military personnel will be arriving in Baghdad between 15 and 25 June 2003.

Medical Personnel

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the targets hit by each of the Cruise missiles fired by HMS Turbulent during the invasion of Iraq; and if he will place in the Library the full battle damage assessment assembled for each Cruise missile fired from the submarine.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption la of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to defence, security and international relations.

Medical Personnel

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration strategy for Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: The Government are contributing to current discussions on how the Coalition Provisional Authority should approach Security Sector Reform in Iraq, including the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of former members of Iraq's armed forces back into Iraqi society.

Military Flying Training System

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been allocated by his Department for the Military Flying Training System programme; how much he expects this programme to cost; and when he expects to be able to make a full financial commitment.

Adam Ingram: Funding is allocated for in-year expenditure only. Provision for future years' expenditure is made in the annually revised Equipment Plan. In the case of the United Kingdom Military Flying Training System, the allocation for equipment acquisition for 2003–04 is £9.5 million. The total estimated cost of the programme is some £12.5 billion. The MFTS programme is currently in its assessment phase. Subject to the necessary Main Gate approval, the project is currently planned to proceed to its next phase in 2006. Full financial commitment will not be made until after Main Gate approval.

Missile Defence

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Active Layered Tactical Ballistic Missile Defence study relating to Missile Defence has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The main body of work to inform the NATO Active Layered Tactical Ballistic Missile Defence (ALTBMD) Feasibility Study has been completed. The NATO authorities are currently compiling a report that will be made available to member nations in due course. The report will form part of a continuing process whose aim is the production of a NATO Staff Requirement for ALTBMD. We currently expect this requirement to be finalised in 2004.

Missile Defence

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 12 June 2003, Official Report, column 57WS, on missile defence, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the Government's support for the US missile defence system with the UK's commitments under Article VI of the Non Proliferation Treaty.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom involvement in cooperative work with the United States on missile defence, including the use of RAF Fylingdales for missile defence purposes, is entirely compatible with the UK's commitments under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The US missile defence system is not a nuclear weapon system.
	The UK is wholly committed to its obligations under the NPT, including Article VI. I set out the progress the UK has made in fulfilling its NPT obligations on nuclear disarmament in my answer of 12 June 2003, Official Report, columns 1018–19W to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson).

Missile Defence

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 12 June 2003, Official Report, column 57WS, on missile defence, whether missiles will be sited in the UK as part of the US missile defence system; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Government have taken no decision about the acquisition or deployment of a missile defence system. The United States has not made any request to site interceptor missiles in the United Kingdom as part of its missile defence system.

NATO

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the objectives are of Government policy towards NATO.

Geoff Hoon: NATO remains the cornerstone of the United Kingdom's defence policy. Our strong support for the alliance is based on the collective defence it provides and its continuing contribution to a stable and secure European continent. The decisions taken at the Prague Summit on NATO enlargement, capabilities and the transformation agenda successfully reaffirmed the alliance as the key security and defence organisation. At Foreign and Defence Ministers meetings earlier this month, agreement on the NATO Response Force and the new Command Arrangements underlined allies' determination to deliver the capabilities needed to ensure NATO's relevance in today's security environment.

Nuclear Weapons

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the effect on UK collaboration with the US nuclear weapons programme will be of US plans to resume underground nuclear weapons tests.

Ivor Caplin: I am not aware that the United States has any plans to resume nuclear-weapon-test-explosions.

Pilots

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 21 January 2003, Official Report, column 209W, and his answer of 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 299W, on pilots, what factors have brought about the change in numbers in that period; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The increase in the strength of pilots for the Sea Harrier fleet was due to the graduation of three pilots from the Sea Harrier Operational Flying Training (SHAR OFT) course and one pilot, previously listed as very seriously injured, now being included in the trained strength.
	The decrease in the strength of pilots for the frontline Harrier GR7 fleet was due to Officers being posted to Qualified Weapons Instructor Courses (QWIC); or to be Qualified Flying Instructors, training students for the frontline. Postings, promotions and retirement from Service are also factors. Three RAF officers will be returning from the QWIC on 20 June 2003, and a further three RAF officers will graduate from training in July 2003.
	Balanced against the influx of RN Harrier pilots to join the Joint Force Harrier and routine postings out, it is expected that the strength will match the requirement in July 2003.
	Such fluctuations should be expected as part of the dynamic personnel management process.

President Bush

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the costs associated with the recent visit of President Bush to Northern Ireland were to his Department.

Adam Ingram: There were no additional costs to the Ministry of Defence regarding the recent visit of the President of the United States of America to Northern Ireland. Fuel and other items used by the visitors were either paid for at the time of the visit or are being recovered from the United States Air Force.

Schools Funding

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he assists in the funding of schools attended by children of Service personnel (a) on an annual basis and (b) to help with financial shortfalls caused by falling school rolls arising from delays in transferring regiments; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: I am aware that changes to unit deployments in the hon. Member's constituency, especially those connected with operations in Iraq, have affected school numbers and funding. Our local schools liaison officer recently attended a meeting of headteachers to explain the reasons for these changes. Funding for schools is the responsibility of the Department for Education and Skills and Devolved Administrations. However, we aim to maintain close liaison with local education authorities and schools to help resolve problems and give early notification to assist in planning. I regret that it was not possible on this occasion to give the customary advance notice.

Service Manning

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 4 June 2003, Official Report, column 454W, on service manning targets, if he will list the (a) spending targets and (b) spending estimates for the current financial year on (i) personnel and (ii) manpower overheads in each of the Services; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 19 June 2003
	The Department does not have spending targets for personnel or manpower overheads (but spending plans which form part of the Main Supply Estimates each year). At this early stage of the financial year, spending estimates for the year will be the same as the plans.
	The estimated costs of employing Service personnel for 2003–04 are shown in the table.
	
		Spending plans—Service personnel
		
			  (£ million) 
		
		
			 Navy 1,607 
			 Army 4,181 
			 RAF 2,029 
		
	
	We do not collect centrally the costs of manpower overheads for Service personnel. The costs of recruiting and training Service personnel are lodged with the military manpower Top Level Budgets. Their net resource costs for 2003–04 are as follows:
	
		Spending plans—military manpower TLBs
		
			  (£ million) 
		
		
			 Navy 694 
			 Army 1,681 
			 RAF 1,018 
		
	
	Spending plans for Service personnel and associated overheads are at a level consistent with enabling the manning targets set out in the current Public Service Agreement to be met.

Special Commissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, 
	(1)  how many (a) requests have been received by DESO from UK companies for special commissions to be paid on sale of defence equipment since 1990 and (b) special commissions that DESO has approved since 1990; and if he will list (i) the countries in which these special commissions were to be paid and (ii) the amount to be paid;
	(2)  in which year the requirement was introduced for UK companies to seek permission from DESO in order to make special commissions on defence equipment sales.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Strategic Lift Capability

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Government will make assessment of (a) the risks of relying on the ready availability of civilian strategic lift assets and (b) the possibility of arrangements with civilian suppliers to guarantee strategic lift capacity during times of crisis; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Strategic air and sealift capability is examined annually by the Department as part of a wider assessment of logistic capabilities. This represents a thorough risk assessment process. The current assessment confirms the benefits of recent major investments in both C-17 aircraft and RoRo shipping, both of which provided strategic lift in support of operations in Iraq.
	To supplement military lift capability, the Department also has enabling contracts in place with commercial brokers for airlift charter that can be activated at very short notice, as and when required. These arrangements proved to be highly effective during operations in Iraq. Contracts for strategic sealift can also be activated rapidly.

War Pensions

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of those at present in receipt of pensions under the war pensions scheme would, if their claim had been presented under the proposed change in burden of proof, have had their claim rejected; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: We have not reviewed the cases of all those currently in receipt of a War Pension to assess how their claims would have been decided under the proposals for the new scheme. A key consideration in Ministers' final decision on the new proposals will be whether the proposed scheme arrangements could be expected to deliver fair decisions in terms of providing proper compensation for those whose illness or injury has been caused or significantly aggravated by their Service.

War Pensions

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with his reviews of the (a) war and (b) armed forces pensions scheme with particular reference to the burden of proof.

Ivor Caplin: Ministers are currently considering the recommendations arising from the reviews of armed forces pension and compensation arrangements. We are aware of the concerns of ex-Service groups with regard to the standard of proof for determining compensation claims and will take these fully into account in reaching final decisions.

Warship Support Agency

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the Warship Support Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of the agency are; and how these figures compare to 2002.

Ivor Caplin: As at May 2003, the latest date for which detailed figures are readily available, there were 7,611 people working for the Warship Support Agency, of whom 2,259 were employed in Scotland. This compares with 10,307 and 4,263 respectively in May 2002. The reduction in the number of staff employed in the Agency since early 2002 is due largely to the transfer, in late 2002 of some 3,000 civilian posts to the Dockyard owners at Devonport, Portsmouth and Clyde under the Warship Support Modernisation Initiative (WSMI).
	In the answer provided by my predecessor (Dr. Moonie) to the hon. Member on 27 February 2002, Official Report, column 1288W, the Agency personnel cost for financial year 2001–02 was an estimate. The actual cost was £318 million, while the actual cost for financial year 2002–03 was £286 million.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Andrew Selous: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Government intend to make changes to the regulations covering new building in areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no current plans to change planning regulations that would specifically affect new building development in areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). A review of statutory permitted development rights for minor development, to determine whether these rights are still appropriate, including in areas such as AONBs is currently being conducted. A research report will be published shortly. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consider its conclusions carefully and any proposed changes to existing rights will be subject to public consultation.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also reviewing national Planning Policy Guidance for the Countryside (PPG7), which includes policies on new development in AONBs, with the aim of replacing this document with a more concise and up-to-date Planning Policy Statement (PPS) for rural areas. A draft of the new PPS will be issued soon for public consultation.

Boiler Maintenance

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has for further regulation of household boilers; and if he will (a) encourage and (b) require annual maintenance checks, including a search for sources of carbon monoxide.

Phil Hope: Amendments to the Building Regulations that came into effect on 1 April 2002 significantly improved the requirements for the safe accommodation and energy efficiency of new and replacement domestic boilers. We announced in the Energy White Paper (EWP) that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will raise the energy performance standard even further to the level of the most efficient types of condensing boilers, and that we aim to bring the next major review of the Building Regulations into effect in 2005.
	The Government are well aware of the hazards associated with combustion appliances and encourage periodic maintenance checks. It is the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's view that the frequency of inspections should be determined by appliance manufacturers having regard to the type of fuel used. Guidance and encouragement supporting this position is conveyed in:
	the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister leaflet, "Solid Fuel, Wood and Oil Burning Appliances : Get Them Checked, Sweep Your Chimneys and be Safe". This warns of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and encourages appropriate maintenance for solid fuel and oil appliances which includes checking for gas tightness; and
	the HSE leaflet, "Get Them Checked—Keep Them Safe". This provides similar advice for gas users.
	The Energy Saving Trust (EST) advises on annual servicing of domestic boilers and safety awareness through its network of Energy Efficiency Advice Centres (EEACs).
	In addition to this general guidance and encouragement, the increased risks to health and safety in rented accommodation are addressed through the requirement in the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations for annual checks. Advice to landlords is available from Letlink.
	These sources can be accessed on the internet at the following addresses and copies are available in the library of the House: www.safety.odpm.gov.uk/bregs/pdf/carbonm.pdf, www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg238.pdf, www.saveenergy.co.uk/about/energyeff.cfm, and www. letlink.co.uk/Facts/Lfacts7.htm

Council Tax

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost to local authorities was of collecting and enforcing the council tax in England for each financial year since 1991–92.

Nick Raynsford: Council tax collection costs as reported by local authorities are tabled as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1993–94 347.3 
			 1994–95 410.6 
			 1995–96 352.0 
			 1996–97 333.4 
			 1997–98 321.0 
			 1998–99 315.2 
			 1999–2000 309.6 
			 2000–01 301.5 
			 2001–02 301.5 
			 2002–03(15) 318.4 
		
	
	(15) Budgeted figures.
	Note:
	Council tax did not exist before 1993–94.
	Source:
	RO6 forms 1993–94 to 2001–02 and RA form 2002–03.

Energy Efficiency

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what targets his Department has for improving energy efficiency; and how he intends to achieve them.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's targets for improving energy efficiency and the ways in which we intend to achieve them are set out in Chapter 3 of the Energy White Paper, published on 24 February this year. We propose action to tighten Building Regulations with the aim of bringing forward the next revision of the Building Regulations in 2005. This will raise building fabric and services standards and enable developers to take the benefits of using low carbon solutions such as solar water heating and photo-voltaics in overall building solutions. We will also encourage greater energy efficiency in homes through the decent homes target to ensure that all social housing is made decent by 2010 and through our delivery of the Sustainable Communities Action Plan.

Housing

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated, on the supply of affordable housing in the south-east; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not commissioned or evaluated any research on the supply of affordable housing in the south-east.

Housing

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  when he next plans to revise (a) Circular 6/98, (b) the definition of affordable housing and (c) the size thresholds which trigger affordable housing planning gains from developers; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he plans to issue revised good practice to local authorities on planning obligations, with a view to increasing the amount of affordable housing provision in the south-east.

Keith Hill: "Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future" announced our intention to update the existing guidance on planning for affordable housing and, in particular, consult on allowing local authorities to seek affordable housing on smaller sites where this is justified. Any revision of the definition in Circular 6/98 would form part of this update. The update will be supported by practice advice. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to issue a consultation document on planning obligations in the near future. Following the consultation, it is intended that a policy document on planning obligations to replace Circular 1/97 will be published.

Road Safety

Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list (a) improvements in pedestrian and cycling facilities, (b) traffic reduction and calming measures and (c) other local transport schemes which have been pursued as part of (i) Local Strategic Partnerships, (ii) the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and (iii) the New Deal for Communities projects, including in each case details of (A) expenditure allocated by his Department and (B) the total cost of the project, broken down by region.

Yvette Cooper: The National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal (2001) sets out the vision of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for narrowing the gap between the most deprived areas and the rest of the country on the key domains of crime, health, education and skills, worklessness, and housing and the physical environment.
	An important element in delivering the strategy is the introduction of floor targets under SR2000. These are National Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets that set a floor or minimum standard so that Whitehall Departments are judged for the first time on the areas they are doing worse rather than on the national average. Under SR2002, Department for Transport (DfT) have signed up to a PSA target on road safety with a floor component:
	Reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in Great Britain in road accidents by 40 per cent., and the number of children killed or seriously injured by 50 per cent., by 2010 compared with the average for 1994–98, tackling the significantly higher incidence in disadvantaged communities.
	The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit has been working closely with the DfT on its proposals for tackling road accident casualties in deprived areas. DfT is targeting £17.6 million to those deprived areas with a high number of child pedestrian casualties. Several of these are in Greater Manchester and around. Local authorities will be expected to draw up local strategies to tackle the problem and obtain results in three years. Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and the police will have a stake locally. In these areas, LSPs will play a key role in drawing together all the key agencies from both from the public and voluntary, community and business sectors to deliver decisions and actions that join up partners' activities. The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) could be used to support some of the less 'roads' oriented work.
	NRF and LSPs
	The Spending Review 2000 made available £900 million for NRF (£200 million in 2001–02, £300 million in 2002–03 and £400 million in 2003–04), and an additional £975 million was made available as part of the Spending Review 2002 (£450 million in 2004–05 and £525 million in 2005–06).
	NRF can be spent in any way that tackles deprivation in the most deprived neighbourhoods, particularly, but not exclusively, in relation to floor targets and to local targets set out in the Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy (LNRS) agreed by each of the 87 LSPs (Kerrier and Penwith work together as the west Cornwall LSP). NRF spending plans are therefore determined locally, and the NRF can be used to support not only local authority services, but also those of other organisations, including other members of the LSP. NRF is used primarily to facilitate the bending of mainstream resources to tackle deprivation in the most deprived areas.
	Various innovative local transport schemes have been pursued across England as part of the NRF:
	from a total NRF allocation of £722,708 for 2002–03, Ashfield local authority has spent £87,220 on access to services and facilities improvement. Two buses have been acquired to link isolated parts of the district council;
	in the north-east, Stockton-on-Tees local authority, from a total NRF allocation of £2,889,153 for 2002–03, has an estimated spend of £28,877 towards an initiative in the Queens Park ward, which has provided greater access for the disabled and disadvantaged through alternatives to public transport. In Wear Valley, £34,000 has been spent on demand responsive community transport for health;
	in the north-west, Wirral local authority has spent £110,000 from a total NRF allocation of £3,806,394 for 2002–03 on a Heritage Skills and Community Transport programme, creating a base for social enterprise that will provide training in construction, driving and mechanical skills for people from priority areas; and
	Islington local authority in London, from a total NRF allocation of £4,702,515 for 2002–03, has spent £42,500 providing safe, accessible and sustainable transport linking people to services.
	Some LSPs have identified access and transport related priority themes when developing their Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategies (LNRS). For example:
	Hackney LNRS has a transport Action Plan to:
	combat congestion on local roads to reduce pollution and minimise accidents;
	make streets healthy and safe for pedestrians and cyclists to enable them to travel easily around the borough; and
	combat social exclusion by enhancing public transport provision and opportunities and ensuring transport is strategically linked to regeneration and employment.
	Bolton LNRS—The LSP has been responsible for negotiating an LPSA to reduce the numbers killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents (excluding motorway network).
	Derby LNRS—has a physical environment cross-cutting theme which seeks to address traffic and transport, urban design and neighbourhood character, open space and recreation, land uses and development sites, environmental improvements.
	Easington LNRS—as part of their environmental strategic priority theme, seeks:
	increased use of public transport;
	increased visitor numbers to the coast;
	re-establishment of rail station facilities;
	number of linked bus services established;
	increased number of routes established;
	increase in per cent. of children walking to school; and
	reduction in traffic congestion around schools.
	New Deal for Communities
	New Deal for Communities (NDC) supports inclusive neighbourhood partnerships, which identify the priority needs of their area and develop appropriate regeneration strategies. We do not hold data centrally about how much NDC funding is allocated to transport projects in each region.
	The specific problems of each NDC neighbourhood are unique, but each NDC partnership looks for outcomes that make a real impact on the people living in their neighbourhood, by tackling five key themes: poor job prospects; high levels of crime; educational under-achievement; poor health; and problems with housing and the physical environment.
	As each NDC neighbourhood has different needs, some but not all NDC Partnerships have specific transport projects. One example of such a project is the Shoreditch NDC Partnership, which launched a project called the Shoreditch Hoppa, which is a new local bus serving the NDC neighbourhood. This project has been so successful that it has been mainstreamed by Transport for London.

Rural Housing

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the proportion of affordable homes were in rural areas in each year since 1990.

Keith Hill: Registered social landlord and local authority dwellings built in England each year since 1990 are in the following table:
	
		
			  Registered social landlord and local authority dwellings as percentage of all new dwellings built 
		
		
			 1990 17 
			 1991 15 
			 1992 17 
			 1993 21 
			 1994 21 
			 1995 20 
			 1996 19 
			 1997 14 
			 1998 14 
			 1999 13 
			 2000 13 
			 2001 12 
			 2002 10

St. Phillips Place, Birmingham

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what purpose his Department has agreed to take a lease of 5 St. Phillip's Place, Birmingham.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no agreement in place for lease of 5 St. Phillips Place.

World Summit

John Horam: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which United Kingdom commitments arising from the World Summit on Sustainable Development (a) have been incorporated into the Department's existing delivery plan for Service Delivery Agreements and (b) will be incorporated in its delivery plan for Service Delivery Agreements in advance of the 2004 Spending Review.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to promoting the achievement of sustainable development in the UK, in support of the WSSD commitments, through a range of policies and programmes. We have published the Sustainable Communities Plan, held an 'Urban Summit' and will be holding a 'Better Buildings' Summit later this year. All of these have sustainable development at their core. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Delivery Agreements relating to sustainable communities, sustainable regional economic growth, the provision of decent housing and action to promote neighbourhood renewal and reduce social exclusion, are all in support of successive sustainable development aims and commitments. In addition, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister supports the Government's aim of sustainable development in specific areas, for example, promoting energy efficiency in buildings as part of the Government's Energy White Paper and in areas set out in the Memorandum submitted to the Environmental Audit Committee.
	We cannot at this stage pre-empt the arrangements for the 2004 Spending Review, though we will continue to ensure that sustainable development is at the heart of the work of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.